Mike Brown

Stories/Essays: "I Love My Life"

Kenny Thielemier, 23, has down syndrome, but that doesn't define who he is. Thanks to progresive thinking and early intervention Kenny has a shot at living out a productive life that is very different for the generations before him that were mostly institutionalized.  

It's not uncommon to hear him proclaim out loud, "I love my life!"  

  • Kenny Thielemier, 23, closes a dance with grace during practices with Company d, a performing arts troupe for individuals with Down Syndrome. The group performs around town regularly and has even performed at an official off-Broadway venue in New York City.
  • Nancy Thielemier peeks in from behind a hallway while her son, Kenny Thielemier, 23, practices with Company d at Hope Presbyterian Church. Nancy and her husband Ken have worked since Kenny's birth to help him be independent. “The best advice we got was to not put any kind of limit on what he could or couldn’t do,” she said.
  • Kenny Thielemier delivers a prayer and blessing for the food with Monsignor Peter Buchignani during a potluck dinner for new members at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Cordova.
  • Kenny Thielemier has begun working in the soup kitchen at St. Mary Catholic Church prior to starting his shift as a janitor at the downtown church. In addition to his service at the soup kitchen twice each week, Kenny splits his Wednesday morning's either delivering Meals on Wheels or sorting food at the Mid-South Food Bank.
  • Kenny Thielemier belts out some Elvis songs while watching a DVD in his living room. Some of his favorite activities at home include listening to Elvis, watching the Weather Channel, playing video games or writing his thoughts in his journal.
  • Kenny Thielemier takes a quick break from the dinner table with his mom and dad, Nancy and Ken, to catch a phone call from one of his friends. He hopes to get his drivers licence, get married and eventually live on his own.
  • Kenny Thielemier wipes his forehead when he finishes winding the cord of a vacuum cleaner after cleaning the second floor of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
  • Kenny Thielemier gets some encouragement from Father Eric Peterson at St. Mary's Catholic Church during one of his twice weekly shifts as a janitor. Kenny has been working at the church for almost three years.
  • Kenny Thielemier gets a morning serenade from classmate Danny Munson, 20, as he eats his breakfast at the Good Life Center, a nonprofit day program operated by the West Tennessee Family Solutions. At the program Kenny learns skills that can be applied to his janitorial job along with performing community services.
  • Thielemier and childhood friend Clay Palmer stare up at a score board at Cordova Lanes bowling alley after a game in which Clay bowled his first-ever turkey, three strikes in a row, during a weekly Special Olympics bowling league. Kenny, who was upset about how he bowled that day, reassured Clay that he wasn't mad but was instead proud of Clay's accomplishment.
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