Emily Maynard Johnson Calls New Son Her ‘Biggest Blessing’
By Movieguide® Contributor
BACHELORETTE alum Emily Maynard Johnson welcomed her sixth child, a son named Jones West.
Johnson is mom to six kids: 17 year-old Ricki, who she shared with her late fiance Ricky Hendrick, and Jennings, 7, Gibson, 6, Gatlin, 5 and Nola Belle, 2, who she shares with husband Tyler Johnson.
“I am so grateful,” she said of Jones’ birth. “But I’m still on my journey of processing everything. And I have to trust that it will all turn out alright.”
Shortly after Jones was born, Johnson was informed that he was born with Down syndrome, as well as a congenital colon abnormality that required immediate surgery and a month long stay in the NICU.
“I was in shock,” she said of the diagnosis. “It was not on my radar at all. And I refused to believe it. I just wanted to hold him and for everything to be okay.”
Jones’ stay in the NICU was “devastating,” but now that he’s home, Johnson said she is loving spending time with her “sweet and smiley” son.
“He’s the easiest baby and he’s just been our biggest blessing,” she shared. “I’m still learning about Down syndrome, but I’m trying to also just experience Jones as Jones and not as different than any of the other kids.”
Johnson continued, “Looking back on my life, a lot of things happened that I wouldn’t have planned, but I wouldn’t change my life for anything. And I wouldn’t trade Jones for any baby in the world.”
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