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It was the occasion of Grady's 10th birthday that his mother -- a professional photographer for more than a decade -- decided to capture his images.

The photos were not only in front of stained glass, but shots of all the \"markers\" usually seen on an ultrasound for a Down syndrome diagnosis. Witkowski filled in each of those with gold.

She named the photo series Kintsugi, for the ancient Japanese art that celebrates broken artifacts by filling the cracks with Gold to bring it to new life. It's often said that Kintsugi makes something even more beautiful than the original.

\"PHOTO:
Erin Witkowski
PHOTO: Grady Witkowski during a photo session his mom, a photographer, held on the occasion of his 10th birthday.
>
\"PHOTO:
Erin Witkowski
PHOTO: Grady Witkowski during a photo session his mom, a photographer, held on the occasion of his 10th birthday.
>
\"PHOTO:
Erin Witkowski
PHOTO: Grady Witkowski in front of a stained class window during a photo session his mom, a photographer, held on the occasion of his 10th birthday.
>

\"Beautiful\" is certainly how the Port Jervis, New York, family feels about life with Grady, the second of four children.

\"The struggles never outweigh the joy,\" Witkowski said. \"That's the thing about a prenatal diagnosis, it doesn't predict the soul.\"

Today, Grady attends the local public school with his siblings and his mom says he's like \"the mayor. She told \"GMA\" \"his personality is huge. He loves to dance and sing and be the center of attention.\"

And he loves his mother, Witkowski said. She adores him right back.

\"I truly found my voice and vision after having Grady,\" she said. \"He allowed me to see beauty in a whole new way.\"

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