PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACY TOBIAS A photo of Luke Tobias, pictured above, was one of 200 chosen for a video production to kick off National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and the National Buddy Walk that will be shown today in Times Square.

Isle kid to star
in Times Square

Luke Tobias' image is
in a video on patients
with Down Syndrome

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By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

Luke Tobias will celebrate his first birthday Oct. 9 as a Broadway celebrity.

His photo was one of 200 chosen from nearly 1,000 entries for a video production to kick off National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and the National Buddy Walk today in New York City.

Panasonic will show the video on NBC Astrovision in Times Square.

"We just found out Thursday (Sept. 12)," said Luke's father, Leland Tobias. "They were asking us if we wanted to go to New York. Well, New York is pretty far ... Unfortunately, we're not going to make it."

Panasonic donated 40 minutes on the Times Square Astrovision in recognition of October as National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

The photos are to demonstrate that people with Down Syndrome can be successful in employment, education and the community.

Tobias, 39, and his wife, Tracy, 40, did not know Luke had Down Syndrome, a chromosome disorder, until after he was born at Castle Medical Center. He was three weeks early but the birth was routine, Tracy said.

"Obviously, we were upset, angry, mad," Leland Tobias said. "Our emotions ran the gamut. But there was the point of trying to get educated and figure out what is Down's, because we didn't really know. Fortunately, our family, friends and church have been real supportive."

Luke was accepted in the Easter Seals Sultan School at 2-1/2 months old, "the youngest they ever had," Tobias said. "They gave us things to do and Luke has been really good."

He has a couple things going for him that many Down babies do not, Tobias said. For example, many are born with a hole in the heart and must have surgery. Luke had a small hole in his heart, but everything was okay when tests were run at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children.

Many Down babies also have low muscle tone, so Sultan prescribed exercises to help Luke with that.

"He's really got good muscle tone and is moving a lot," Tobias said. "The milestones and things that we set for him, he's hitting them all."

His mother says he's "a happy, healthy, energetic little boy" who enjoys crawling and is learning to stand. "He likes music, loves eating books that are read to him and can't resist putting everything in his mouth."

His 3-year-old brother, Jacob, is a big plus, Leland Tobias said. "I don't think he knows any difference between a normal child and a Down child. He treats Luke like anyone else, and Luke plays with Jacob's friends. I think it's an asset to Jacob's friends to learn about ... and play with a child with disability."

Some Down kids now are going to college, Tobias pointed out, noting one of their goals is for Luke to become computer literate.

"I've already got him working on the computer. I got him programs. We teach Jacob; he's learning Spanish, and I've got Luke there with me ... We're definitely going to push the envelope."

Says Luke's mother: "He has a calm, happy disposition and often produces contagious smiles. He is an easy child to love and enjoys socializing."

Tobias has his own business, doing home automation for hotels and others in the high-end market. Tracy is a warrant officer in the Army National Guard.

They just returned from a family reunion in Florida, Tobias said. "If we had known (about New York), we could have tied it in."

The video production will end "with a fun good-bye" by the NBC show "Scrubs" and a Down Syndrome public service announcement featuring actor John C. McGinley, who plays Dr. Cox on "Scrubs." McGinley has a son with Down Syndrome.

National Down Syndrome Awareness Month includes the society's 2002 Buddy Walk, being held in more than 150 cities. The Honolulu walk will be Oct. 20 at Kakaako Park.