But they pushed through it, and haven't regretted it for a moment.
During the pregnancy, the couple had been told their child had a "low risk" of Down Syndrome, so the diagnosis after she was born was a big shock. "Everything looked bleak and we thought our world would change forever. It has changed – but for the better. She brings light to our lives,” Vicki said.
"With a typical child you can sometimes miss milestones because they come so quickly. But with Lily we celebrate every development – a smile or step is a huge deal for us. I love her with all my heart," added Eddie.
And Lily is no wilting flower. They describe her as "headstrong." She already knows 15 words, and can use sign language for another 60.
While Vicki has accepted that some of the expectations she'd had for Lily might be out of reach, she now realizes that Lily is not that different from any other child. "Every day she surprises me and makes me laugh."
Last fall, the couple received a phone call from a modeling agency. The scouts were working for the U.K. fashion chain, Matalan, and were linked with a local charity called Upwards with Downs.
They selected Lily to be a model for the Spring/Summer 2017 collection and brought her in for a photo shoot. Her face is now on the walls of the chain's 217 U.K. stores!
Vicki is proud of her daughter and what she's doing to prove prejudices wrong. "Down's Syndrome is not what you expect. It is hard work sometimes, but she was going to be hard work anyway as she is two years old."
"She has lots of friends and she can do anything that other children do. It's all about breaking down stereotypes and showing that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and abilities."
h/t Mirror Online
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