Fox & Friends Weekend host Rachel Campos-Duffy shares 'heartwarming' moment with daughter live on air that brings fans to tears

In a touching segment that resonated with viewers, Rachel Campos-Duffy, co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, shared a heartfelt moment with her daughter Valentina during a live broadcast in honor of World Down Syndrome Day. The exchange highlighted the joys and challenges of parenting a child with Down Syndrome, as Campos-Duffy emphasized the profound impact Valentina has had on their family.

Valentina, who is just five years old, was born in 2019 and has become a beacon of joy and empathy in the Campos-Duffy household. During the segment, Campos-Duffy expressed her belief that families like hers are enriched by the presence of children with Down Syndrome. “Our family is better because of Valentina,” she stated, radiating pride and love. The co-host explained that her daughter is “as lovely, as precious, as joyful, as any other child,” and she urged viewers to recognize the potential and beauty in children with genetic disorders.

The discussion took a poignant turn as Campos-Duffy addressed the fears that often accompany a Down Syndrome diagnosis. She noted that many prospective parents receive alarming information from the medical community, which can lead to anxiety and uncertainty. “I think it’s really important to raise awareness because actually a lot of women get this diagnosis and they will get fearful,” she said. Campos-Duffy’s message was clear: children with Down Syndrome can lead fulfilling lives, and their challenges are often manageable. “They have a few little challenges, sometimes medical—some of them are prone to heart conditions, maybe some thyroid stuff,” she explained, but reassured viewers that Valentina’s health has not hindered their family’s happiness.

The segment also showcased Valentina’s vibrant personality, as she demonstrated her pilates skills, which she learned through physical therapy. This lighthearted moment not only highlighted Valentina’s abilities but also served as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and acceptance. Campos-Duffy shared that her other children have grown in empathy and understanding thanks to their sister. “I think our kids have learned tolerance and patience,” she said. “They’ve learned to be helpful.” This sentiment underscores the idea that families with children who have special needs often cultivate a deeper sense of compassion and community.

As a pro-life advocate, Campos-Duffy also touched on a critical issue surrounding Down Syndrome. She referenced Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a fellow advocate and mother of a child with Down Syndrome, as an inspiration for her activism. “So many children with Downs are being exterminated in the womb,” Campos-Duffy lamented, emphasizing the need for society to embrace and celebrate these children rather than fear them. She believes that when people have the opportunity to meet and understand children like Valentina, they will recognize their worth and potential, leading to a decrease in the number of abortions based on Down Syndrome diagnoses.

The segment was not only a celebration of Valentina but also a call to action for viewers to reconsider their perceptions of Down Syndrome. Campos-Duffy’s heartfelt words and the genuine bond between mother and daughter resonated with many, reminding audiences of the importance of love, acceptance, and understanding in the face of societal challenges.

In addition to her role as a mother and television personality, Campos-Duffy is also known for her outspoken views on various social issues. Reflecting on her past as a cast member of MTV’s The Real World, she noted that the current climate of “woke cancel culture” would likely prevent such a show from being produced today. She expressed concern that this culture stifles honest dialogue and leads to self-censorship. “When you shame and punish people socially and professionally just for having a different point of view, you get a lot of self-censorship and fake virtue signaling,” she stated.

As Rachel Campos-Duffy continues to navigate her roles as a mother, co-host, and advocate, her heartfelt moment with Valentina serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty of diversity and the importance of fostering empathy in our communities. Through her advocacy and personal experiences, she hopes to inspire others to embrace the joys of parenting children with special needs and to challenge societal norms that perpetuate fear and misunderstanding.

IN a tender exchange, FOX & Friends Weekend co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy brought her daughter on the show to discuss being a parent to a child with Down Syndrome.

In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, the host told Fox & Friends viewers that her family was made better with the addition of 5-year-old Valentina.

Rachel Campos-Duffy said her daughter with Down Syndrome is just as joyful as any other childCredit: getty

Valentina has brought more empathy to the family’s household, according to Campos-DuffyCredit: Fox News
Campos-Duffy’s daughter Valentina was born in 2019.

Campos-Duffy joined Fox & Friends co-host Ainsley Earhardt, alongside her daughter, to discuss her experience as a mother to a child with a genetic disorder.

“I think it’s really important to raise awareness because actually a lot of women get this diagnosis and they will get fearful,” Campos-Duffy said.

She said that even the medical community can inflict fear on prospective parents of children with Down Syndrome.

She said her daughter is “as lovely, as precious, as joyful, as any other child” and described the problems children affected by Downs have as being “very treatable.”

“They have a few little challenges, sometimes medical – some of them are prone to heart conditions, maybe some thyroid stuff,” Campos-Duffy said.

But Valentina’s health hasn’t slowed down the family.

According to the mother of nine, her other children with husband Sean Duffy, an American politician and former Congress member, have more empathy thanks to their sister Valentina.

“I think our kids have learned tolerance and patience,” she said. “They’ve learned to be helpful.”

Her daughter also briefly demonstrated her pilates skills for viewers – moves her mother said she learned in physical therapy.

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Campos-Duffy identifies as a pro-life activist and said she was initially inspired by Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a colleague of her husband’s and the mother to a child with Down Syndrome.

“I think that that’s really the point…so many children with Downs are being exterminated in the womb and I think, when people get to meet them and know how wonderful they are, we’re going to see less of that,” said Campos-Duffy.

30 YEARS SINCE REAL WORLD

This year marks 30 years since Campos-Duffy was on MTV’s reality television series The Real World.

She was one of six cast members on The Real World: San Francisco in January 1994, the fifth season of the show.

The American TV personality, who also hosts the From the Kitchen Table podcast alongside her husband Sean, told People Magazine that her Real World season could not be made today due to “woke cancel culture.”

Campos-Duffy insisted that “wokeism” is not only negatively impacting the reality TV world but also society as a whole.

The Fox & Friends Weekend co-host said that cancel culture prevents people from expressing their honest opinions.

“When you shame and punish people socially and professionally just for having a different point of view, you get a lot of self-censorship and fake virtue signaling,” she said.