Our neighbor, friend, and Max's 2nd grade teacher, Elaina Kielbaso, had been sharing stories with us about Max for years. We knew he was magical, but I don't think anything could've prepared us for his truly magic hugs. 

When we finally met Max and his family at Lions Training Camp this summer, our worlds were rocked. Never have we smiled so big or been touched so deeply. See photos for reference:

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary, is that little "extra." For Max Robertson, that comes in the form of an extra chromosome. Max was born with Down Syndrome, but from an early age, showed that nothing was going to slow him down. Max has faced lots of challenges including physical and speech delays, Celiac Disease, and Alopecia. However, if you ever think Max won’t be able to do something, he will almost always prove you wrong with a smile on his face and an "I told you so" attitude. 

Max, who is now 13 years old, loves U of M football, marching bands, and of course, the Detroit Lions. You will hear him cheering loudly for his pal Aidan Hutchinson to "sack the quarterback!" When Max isn’t watching sports, he is playing them. He plays Miracle League baseball, Tops Soccer, Special Olympics Track, and just this summer, learned to ride a two wheel bike.   

If you know Max, you know about his magic hugs. A "Max Hug" will instantly calm you down and remind you that love has no limits. We often claim that he has a “6th sense” and always knows just when someone needs a hug. He sees the world with no judgments and teaches us lessons that no one else could.          

"If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world." Max is different. He is also pure love, joy, and has an infectious smile and laugh that will instantly make your day better. And he gives us a daily reminder to live life to the MAX.