Tamara Taggart wants to change the conversation for parents of children with special needs.
In a recently filmed TEDx Talk, the CTV News at 6 anchor compares two conversations she had with doctors that changed her life forever.
The first was after her first child, Beckett, was born with Down syndrome, and the second – when a doctor revealed she had a rare form of cancer.
"We heard all the things that our son wouldn't do, and couldn't do, and won't do," she told the audience at TEDxSFU, a local event held last month.
Fast forward several years, when Taggart was delivered a life-changing diagnosis – she had a rare form of cancer. The veteran broadcaster had a 10-centimetre tumour removed from her small intestine that almost killed her, an experience she called "the worst thing that's ever happened to me."
The latter conversation was hopeful, optimistic and empathetic. The conversation about her son being born with special needs? Negative, discouraging and fearful.
"My son is not cancer. My son is not a tumour. Not even close," she said, going on to illustrate the joy and love her first-born has brought into the lives of his parents and two younger sisters.
Since the presentation was posted to YouTube on Nov. 24 it has racked up thousands of views online. Taggart says she was moved to share her story because both experiences have had a profound effect on her family, and that the response it has received so far is nothing short of amazing.
"So many people have taken the time to watch the talk and comment. Those comments have been supportive, encouraging and very thoughtful," she says.
She hopes it changes the way people think about and talk to parents of children with special needs.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all treated each other with kindness and respect?" she asks. "If this talk can change our conversations, especially those in the medical field, to acknowledge the positive first...that would be incredible."
