For those who don't know what the "R" word is, it's a slang word used to describe people who have disabilities. Asperger's, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome are just a few of the many. I was blessed in March of 2015 to meet and get to know a little girl named Sammi who has Down Syndrome who has changed my life and the way I look at things.

For those of you who don't know what Down Syndrome is, or Trisomy 21, it is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21. Everyone looks at things like this differently, but for me, I look at it as an opportunity to look at life.

Sammi is a big eight-year-old who is sassy, very smart, and very loving. She is my boyfriend's little sister and when he told me about her, I was a little nervous to meet her. I am very awkward with children, and I thought with her having Downs Syndrome would make it more difficult for me. But I was so wrong. When I met her, she looked me in the face with her big blue eyes and a big smile and said, "Hi! I'm Sammi!". Ever since that day, my life has been changed forever.

She has such a big heart for those in need, she loves to help out with whatever she can, she has an attitude like she's the queen of the world, and she teaches everyone new things every day.

She has taught me to be more patient, to live life a little fuller, not take anything for granted, be proud of mistakes I make, and it's alright to live a little silly. I have walked with her for the buddy walk, I have watched her cheer performances, and I have been super silly with her.

Sure, some days are better than others, but she makes it so worth it. If she spill's something or makes a mess of anything, she just walk's away like she didn't do it. But I would not want to change anything about her because she has impacted so many lives.