Sunderland musician finds 'new purpose in life' after daughter is diagnosed with Down's syndrome

Corey Bell, 27 was left shocked when he was told his first born had been diagnosed with Down’s syndrome after being born six weeks earlier and kept in hospital for two weeks.

The dad says he had no idea that his daughter Harper Rose had Down’s syndrome but the diagnosis has ‘changed his outlook on life.’

Harper Rose was born on July, 11, 2020 after mum Amy Smith started losing her vision due to kidney failure caused by pre-eclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure, before having an emergency C-section and blood transfusion at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Harper was kept in the neonatal unit for two weeks before specialists confirmed that she had Down’s syndrome.

Corey says it is more difficult to care for Harper, who is now eight-months-old, given her condition but the family are all working together to provide all the care she needs.

Corey said: “We were told by the hospital that they were sorry but Harper Rose had been diagnosed with Down’s syndrome and I didn’t like the way they said it at the time because they said they were sorry but it didn’t matter to us because we still love her the same.

"She’s absolutely perfect and is always smiling, it’s given me a bigger purpose in life and it’s changed me for the better.”

The 27-year-old is now raising awareness of the condition through music by sharing his inspiration and donating money to the Down’s Syndrome charity.

He said: “I’ve been writing music and rapping for 10 years and after Harper was born, the world just fell in place – a lot of my music is about her.

"I used to be selfish and I struggled to talk about what I was dealing with but my life has completely changed, I have a wider perspective on things now.”

The rapper released his newest project during Down Syndrome Awareness Week and is planning to donate funds raised from his music and upcoming gigs to The Down’s Syndrome charity and Sunderland Royal Hospital neonatal unit.

Corey’s album is due to drop this summer and his latest tracks can be found here.

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