How often, when we learn that a person has a serious congenital disease, we begin to sympathize and think that he is doomed to lead a less vibrant and fulfilling life than healthy people. Especially if this disease is Down syndrome.
The story of Pablo Pineda
Pablo Pineda is an example proving the opposite. Even a person with such a serious illness can not only lead a full life, but also receive secondary and higher education, as well as act in films.
Down Syndrome
Solar children - so called children with a similar diagnosis. Down syndrome is a congenital genetic disease that is characterized by the presence of more chromosomes in the karyotype. The disease manifests itself as a violation of human development, both mental and physical. As a rule, he has less vocabulary, lower ability to concentrate and abstract thinking, the growth of people with Down syndrome is also significantly less than the growth of an average healthy person.
There are several forms of Down syndrome:
- trisomal - simple (most common);
- translocation (not so common);
- mosaic (the rarest form).
Mosaic form of Down syndrome is extremely rare. Pablo Pineda, whose form of Down syndrome is just a mosaic, is her most striking example. People with this form of the disease do not differ much from their peers in appearance, and they are also not very behind intellectually. Children often attend school and may even enroll and graduate. The mosaic form practically does not carry any concomitant diseases, or they are weakly expressed.
Pablo Pineda Biography
Pineda was born in 1974 in Spain, in the resort town of Malaga. He learned about his illness as a child. At the age of 7, the teacher told Pablo what his peculiarity consists in. Having understood little about the genetics of the syndrome, Pineda asked if he could study with his friends. Having received an affirmative answer, he was happy.
Pablo Pineda graduated from high school, where, as he himself says in an interview with Die Welt, it was difficult for him. Pupils did not communicate with a classmate, shunned him, did not take him seriously and were afraid to even touch. Pablo was an outcast, but he did not despair and was able to pass this stage. He was the first student of a regular school with a similar disease. Then Pablo Pineda graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in psycho-pedagogy.
Pablo's dream was teaching, because he loves children very much, as he admitted in his interview. He did not immediately come to this profession. As a child, he planned to become a lawyer, then a journalist. However, his teacher advised him to choose a different direction and was right. Thus, he became the first teacher in Europe with Down syndrome.
Relationship with parents
His parents made a huge contribution to the formation of Pablo as a person and person. They did not treat their child as a patient, and tried to help him accept himself. Parents did not begin to limit his activities and take care of the child in everything, treating him as a patient. They tried to push him, help in development, taught independence. Mom constantly talked with her son, and father read books and helped learn to write and read. They did not begin to send him to a specialized school, but preferred that he study and communicate with ordinary children, because it was the environment, in their opinion, that could help his son become a full member of society. Pablo Pineda talked with ordinary children and did not distinguish himself among them.
Filmography
In 2009, the film "Me, too," was released. The film was shot by Alvaro Pastor and Antonio Najarro. The story of the main character was very close and familiar to Pablo, and he played the main role in the film.
The film "Me too"
The hero of the movie "Me, too," Daniel is not like everyone else. He has Down syndrome. Society accepts him with difficulty, the majority treats him as a patient. However, at 34, he has a great taste, sense of humor, and self-irony. He graduated and has an excellent position. He works as a teacher at the university. In his free time, Daniel studies foreign languages and is interested in painting. He is admired by paintings, especially by Bosch. He's got friends. The hero lives a full life.
The only thing he lacks is the second half, but this is not a problem for him. Daniel falls in love with a woman, and the woman is healthy. Not everyone believes in the possibility of this alliance, even the brother of the protagonist advises finding him “like me”. However, Laura was able to understand and appreciate Daniel as a man. Though not immediately, but gradually she began to look at him from the other side and perceive him as a possible life partner.
Awards
Pablo Pineda, whose filmography was not very extensive, for this role in 2009 in San Sebastian received a silver shell for the best male role. So he became the second actor with Down Syndrome, who received such a high award in cinema (the first was Pascal Dukuen - in 1996).
After Pablo returned to his homeland, in Malaga, the mayor presented him with the award “City Shield” on behalf of the city council. And also in Malaga there is a square called “Pablo Pineda Square”.
Work on television
After the release of the film “Me, too,” which was a huge success, Pineda became famous. He was soon invited to television to host the Positive Thoughts program.
Attitude to life
Pablo Pineda calmly refers to his disease and calls such people “other” or “other people”, believing that the problem of society is the inability to accept what is different from himself. Pablo considers dividing people into groups and sticking labels on them a big mistake.
Despite the fact that the peculiarity of people with Down syndrome is poorly developed muscles and a tendency to obesity, Pablo tries to take care of himself. He adheres to proper nutrition and goes in for sports. Pablo Pineda, whose growth is very low, having certain physical characteristics, was able to lose 18 kilograms due to his tenacity.
Pablo studies a lot and hard, because he knows very well that people with Down syndrome are more difficult to learn. He loves music and spends a lot of time listening to his favorite compositions that help him concentrate.
Pablo does not strive for publicity and, as he himself admits, gets tired of constant phone calls, because sometimes there are thirty of them per day. For the same reason, he does not take part in all programs and programs in which he is offered to appear.
The only side in which Pablo Pineda has not yet been able to materialize is family life. He is single. Since Pablo has been used to being surrounded by healthy people since childhood, he chooses women from his surroundings. According to him, he fell in love many times, but he "has to fight for love," because ordinary women treat him like a friend. However, Pablo does not despair and believes that he will meet his love.
Today, Pineda lives in his hometown of Malaga. Pablo devotes a lot of time to charity, he meets with people with Down syndrome and helps them to believe in themselves and find work. Pineda is a teacher, lecturer, and collaborator with the Adecco Foundation and Lo que de verdad importa.
Pablo Pineda: photos
The story of Pablo Pineda is very revealing. She teaches never to despair and not give up. He was able to step over his prejudices, and even his diagnosis did not become an obstacle to his full life.