‘Biggest Blessing’: Rapper Celebrates Son With Autism, Down Syndrome
Movieguide® Contributor
Rapper Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, says his son with Down syndrome and autism has been one of the “biggest blessings” of his life.
“He’s our biggest blessing because we treat him the way we do because we never gave up on him,” Cartegena said about his son, Joey, in a recent podcast.
The rapper was 19 when Joey was born.
“When he’s born, the doctor tells us, ‘Hey I got bad news … he has Down syndrome; he’s going to be a big challenge,’” Cartagena said.
The doctor showed them the differences in their baby’s hands and feet, which showed that he had Down syndrome.
“His mother was like ‘Yo, I can’t do this. I’m going to have to give him up for adoption,'” the rapper said.
Cartagena’s mom stepped in and said she didn’t want to lose her grandbaby.
“So, we raised him,” Fat Joe said. “I never seen his mother again.”
Joey is now 33. Fat Joe always left the door open for Joey’s mother to see him, but she never came.
While his diagnosis seemed daunting, Cartagena never doubted his choice to raise him.
“[A] father’s got to be a father,” said the rapper. “I don’t know how to be a fake father. So I got to take care of my kids regardless and do everything I can for them.”
“I don’t know how to give up on my kids. I don’t know how to not love on my kids. That’s impossible,” he continued.
“Singer-songwriter Aaron Shust and his wife Sarah celebrated their son’s 10th birthday and shared their journey.
Michael was born deaf, with Down syndrome, and just half a heart.
One of Joey’s traits is that he’s always cheerful.
“This guy’s happy,” the proud dad said. “I swear to God, he’s always happy. He’s never sad. He’s like, if you’re stuck in a place, he’s stuck in happiness.”
Another one of Joey’s traits, which he’s had his entire life, is that he won’t sleep unless someone is with him.
“He doesn’t sleep without one person, without someone sitting there looking at him,” Fat Joe said on the podcast.
Cartagena also has a son, Ryan, and a daughter, Azariah.
Joey “does what he wants. He gets what he wants. He’s the Don,” explained Cartagena. “He sits at the end of the table, he knows ‘Oh, those are my little brothers and sisters.'”
On Joye’s birthday last year, Cartagena wrote him a sweet birthday message.
“God bless my First born lil Joey. I love you with all my heart ❤️ Happy Birthday Joey, you are the Biggest blessing in the world. more life, more greatness,” he said. “I will always be by your side.”
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