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Post by Chester on Aug 16, 2007 19:56:18 GMT -5
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Post by Emilysmom on Aug 16, 2007 20:13:17 GMT -5
I couldn't get the link to work, but googled the article and found it................here is just a brief blurb from it. It's obvious that her sister has been a HUGE part of her life!!! " Eva, 30, reveals: "I've met so many amazing people but no one comes close to my own sister, Elizabeth. She is and always has been the absolute brightest light of my family's life. I WOULD like to educate people............. It is never about what Elizabeth can't do, it's what she can do." And here is another article: www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA102706.03B.EvasHeroes.3479262.html
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Post by Cbean on Aug 16, 2007 20:24:28 GMT -5
Nice article but crummy title. I just learned a week ago that she had a sister with DS. Thanks!!! I was curious.
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Post by CC on Aug 16, 2007 20:49:31 GMT -5
Agree Christine the Tile is a bit of a turn off but the article is nice.
I copied here for you all...
MY DOWN'S SIS IS SO SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE: DESPERATE HOUSEWIFE'S WAR ON PREJUDICE By Julie Mccaffrey 25/02/2006 Related Articles More News Have your say: News forum SHE has A-list stars for friends, showbiz bosses falling at her feet and a hunky sportsman fiance.
But no one makes drop-dead Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria happier than her older sister Elizabeth, born mentally disabled 37 years ago with Down's syndrome.
Now, for the first time, the actress has spoken about the woman she says is the most important person in her life.
Advertisement Eva, 30, reveals: "I've met so many amazing people but no one comes close to my own sister, Elizabeth.
"She is and always has been the absolute brightest light of my family's life.
"Whatever I do, Elizabeth is proud of me. Hers is the first face I want to see when I go home. She's just the most special, inspirational person."
Eva plays spoiled adulteress Gabrielle Solis in the hit Channel 4 TV series, where she has an affair with gardener John Rowland, played by Jesse Metcalfe.
She and co-stars Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Nicollette Sheridan and Felicity Huffman have made Desperate Housewives the hottest drama since Sex And The City.
She earns £145,000 for each episode, enjoys worldwide fame and was recently voted the sexiest woman on the planet. But the 30-year-old believes her biggest blessing is Elizabeth, the eldest of four Longoria girls - Eva is the youngest daughter.
"I always say that Elizabeth wasn't born into our world - we were born into hers," Eva smiles.
"As children we always knew that someone else came first because she had special needs and we were taught from when we were babies to respect and understand that.
"It is a hard lesson to take when you are little but as you grow older you just appreciate how important it is to think of someone else first.
"It would be impossible to resent her because she's always so happy and smiling.
"When people walk into a room Elizabeth's face lights up because she's just so delighted with life.
"She gives off this warm glow that everybody responds to. Elizabeth is such a positive person who completely believes in herself and everyone else."
Eva, who was raised on a ranch in Texas, hopes to use her new-found international fame to help end the prejudice against people with mental disability.
She continues: "People think that if you are mentally retarded then it's a great shame and you can't play any part in life.
I WOULD like to educate people because that just isn't true. It is never about what Elizabeth can't do, it's what she can do.
"It was because of her my mother became a special education teacher, something she's just amazing at and has benefited so much from.
"She is the most special person in our lives."
Eva is exceptionally close to her family and recently bought a huge home for parents, Enrique and Ella, near to where she grew up in San Antonio.
"My parents have never had a nice house in their life. They never had air conditioning or heating," she explains. "But I never knew we were poor because we grew up with a lot of love and my family is really close.
"My parents gave up a lot for us. They sacrificed pay cheque after pay cheque for us to have cheerleading uniforms or for my sister to go to band practice. We're all grateful for that."
Engaged since last July to French-born basketball player Tony Parker, Eva is keen to start a family of her own.
"I want a lot of children so I told Tony to hurry up," she laughs.
"But Tony and I live in separate states âAA" he's in Texas and I'm in California â" so that might be a bit difficult at the moment.
"But he's very family-oriented and we both want to live in Texas and spend some time in France."
Although Eva, who has signed a £1million advertising contract with L'Oreal, is devoted to her fiance, she still has an eye for a handsome man.
She was recently pictured wearing a T-shirt bearing the words: "I'll have your baby, Brad".
But so far, Eva admits, Brad Pitt has not called. "I think we all have to accept he's with Angelina Jolie now," she pouts.
"Good luck to her. She got what she wanted.
"It would be nice to go out on a date with Brad Pitt but I'm not going to cry about it." Prince William has also caught her attention. She grins: "He is goodlooking, dinner might be fun.
"But I would hate to marry into the British Royal Family because of what happened to Princess Diana.
"I do like British guys though. If I had to pick one it would be Ewan McGregor. I met him once and he was gorgeous - even if he is short. He has got the most amazing charisma."
Even Eva's recent divorce from the American soap actor Tyler Christopher after a three-year marriage has not dented her dream of true love.
"I don't see my divorce as being a failure because the marriage, although it was short, was a wonderful experience," she says.
"We were both just too young and didn't quite appreciate how hard you had to work to make a marriage work.
"But I'm certain that it'll work out for me in the future - I know it will."
As she talks it is clear that growing up with her sister Elizabeth has helped Eva to see clearly what is important in life.
She says: "I have a great fiance and a wonderful family.
"Elizabeth has shaped our family completely and utterly.
"She has showed all of us in what it is to appreciate every second of life and to be just as delighted by little things as the big things."
julie.mccaffrey@mirror.co.uk
'Elizabeth has showed all of us what it is to appreciate every second of this life
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Post by char on Aug 17, 2007 20:29:19 GMT -5
Eva is now married to Tony Parker, and their combined income is huge. She should be able to get information out to the public in a big way. Another real advocate for Ds will be a woman in the US House of Representatives who recently gave birth to her first child. A few days later he was DX'd with Down syndrome.
I just found out that Abby's therapies are not covered by the two insurances that her family has. I was shocked when I heard this. It seems to me that denying PT, OT or ST would be discrimination in the worst form. I simply don't understand how therapy can be covered for a physical injury but isn't covered for something like our kids and grandkids need.
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Post by victoriasdad on Aug 17, 2007 21:07:04 GMT -5
wow wonderful story,, change of subject though when u use the term dx'd in the military when something is worn out , or of no use it is dx'd it means destroyed.
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Post by Monique on Aug 18, 2007 8:53:15 GMT -5
It would be so great if someone high profile like Eva Longoria could use her celebrity to help be a master of ceremony for a DS walk or something to help awareness. It's disappointing that she doesnt do more for the DS community.
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Post by tiffany on Aug 18, 2007 10:26:20 GMT -5
Thank you for sharing this! I had no idea she had a sis with Down syndrome! How great! Tiffany
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Post by Renee' on Aug 18, 2007 13:42:03 GMT -5
I never knew she had a sister with Down Syndrome.
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Post by violettesmom on Aug 19, 2007 8:43:27 GMT -5
Monique - I was thinking about that, and I wonder for security purposes if it would be hard for her to be that high profile with her sister...I'd think she probably has some followers that would be fringy and obsessive enough that she could put her sister at risk if she brought her to the forefront...
Just a thought...
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Post by Chris too on Aug 19, 2007 13:52:50 GMT -5
She wouldn't have to share her sister's name, picture, or location, only that she has a sister with Ds, and use that as a basis for some great PSAs about including people with disabilities in our ideas about diversity, and about the hurtful, divisive nature of the r-word. She'd be a natural for it.
Chris too
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