by Timothy Rutt
In five years of doing this website, one of our favorite pictures is this one: Tim Borquez, crowing in triumph at his haul at the Club 21 Easter Egg hunt on the grounds of the Col. Green Carriage House in 2011. Tim was always a ham, anyway, but he also personified the indominitable spirit of kids with Down Syndrome. We just love the joy and pride and "bring it ON" attitude at play in this picture.
So it was sorrow beyond words when we heard that Tim, 12, had gone to sleep in his Altadena home Thursday night and never woke up again. It was unexpected, but I can't think of a better place to go than in the big bed, sleeping nestled between Mom and Dad who love you.
We families who have a member with Down Syndrome are a tight little group -- we're always sharing stories about our kids, their schools, therapies, how they encounter the world, and how we cope with it all. We share our triumphs and our tragedies together.Our heart and prayers go out to Monica and Fred, and his sisters Laura and Rebecca. Club 21 has a nice tribute here.
It's going to be hard going to East Altadena Little League Challengers practice today, where Tim was always a presence. And it will be hard going to Lineage Dance's Club 21 dance class for kids with Down Syndrome Monday, because it was generally our kids and Tim.
If you want to get to know him a little, look around: he's had a bit of a TV acting career (we saw him on "House" once, as a student who was trying to comfort his teacher after she collapsed). He's also been on "Nip/Tuck." And, coincidentally, our Rosie was watching her favorite show, "Yo Gabba Gabba," this morning, and darn it, there was Tim.
We miss him already -- the world's a little less brighter now.
(Slightly revised from this morning).
