It was a simple video capturing a special moment between siblings when 7-year-old Rayce Grieves was caught on camera serenading his baby brother with the pop tune “10,000 Hours” by Justin Bieber and Dan + Shay. The adorable younger sibling has Down syndrome, and the video struck a chord with people all over the world.
The tender older brother’s song stirred his mom, Nicole Powell, and dad, J.J. Grieves, not to mention millions of people online—showing that love makes all things right.
I'd spend 10,000 hours and 10,000 more Oh, if that’s what it takes to learn that sweet heart of yours And I might never get there but I’m gonna try If it’s 10,000 hours or the rest of my life I’m gonna love youAnd as the family likes to say, “love doesn’t count chromosomes.”
When mom Nicole, a 29-year-old police officer, and her husband, J.J., 39, got the diagnosis that their baby boy would have trisomy, an extra chromosome, and likely suffer from Down syndrome, they were devastated. Powell told the Daily Mail, “Honestly I was really terrified because I wasn’t educated at all about Down’s syndrome and I hadn’t been around anyone with [it].”
As scared as the couple were about their son’s uncertain future, they believed that he was a gift. Nicole felt it was important to share the news with her older children, Jayce, 9, and Rayce, 6. “I didn’t want our boys to be ashamed of him, because he still their little brother regardless of what he has,” she said.
Whatever doubts these loving parents had about how their sons would understand the condition evaporated almost immediately. Nicole recounted, “Rayce popped up real quick and said, ‘aren’t we all different?’ and at that moment I knew he would be accepted.”
Since Tripp was born, his parents didn’t know what problems might arise from the trisomy. However, what has remained constant is the love the older brothers have shown him. Rayce has taken to singing his favorite songs to Tripp, including “10,000 Hours.” Nicole shared, “Rayce was saying ‘this is about me and you’—he doesn’t know it’s about a husband and wife.”
Dad J.J. said they hope they can spread the message that Down syndrome is just another kind of different. “It takes a little bit longer to learn, a little more care, and a little more loving, but isn’t that what the world needs?” he asked.
In an incredible turn of events, the simple video of an older brother serenading his baby brother spread so far and wide that singer-songwriter duo Dan + Shay stumbled upon it. The country musicians, and writers of “10,000 Hours,” were so touched by what Rayce had done with their song that they made a video thanking the boy.
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