In 2014, Carissa Carroll launched a nonprofit initiative called Jack’s Basket, inspired by her personal journey as a parent of a child with Down syndrome. Since its inception, the organisation has created a supportive community and distributed thousands of care packages to families both in the UK and around the world. This week, Carroll has been recognised as one of the Women Changing the World by PEOPLE magazine, a commendation that highlights her significant contributions to the Down syndrome community.
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Carroll’s life took an unexpected turn during the birth of her second child, Jack, in 2013. After experiencing a smooth pregnancy, she found herself in a precarious situation with an emergency C-section due to complications. Shortly after his delivery, Carroll and her husband received the life-altering news that their newborn likely had Down syndrome. “I was flooded with fear of the future and how the world would accept him,” the 45-year-old former teacher recalled, reflecting on her initial feelings of uncertainty regarding their family’s future.
The early days of Jack’s life were challenging for Carroll, who described the first four months as a “fog.” Seeking reassurance, she reached out to a former acquaintance whose daughter also had Down syndrome. “She said, ‘Carissa, not for a million dollars would I change who she is,'” Carroll shared. This conversation provided the much-needed perspective that helped her embrace her son’s uniqueness. “I say I wouldn’t change Jack if I could,” she affirms, “but I will change the world because of him and what he has taught us.”
Feeling a shared sense of grief that often accompanies such a diagnosis, Carroll became acutely aware that many other parents faced similar challenges when confronted with an abrupt delivery of the news. “It was shortly after I truly accepted him that I realised this needs to change for other families,” she stated. She felt a responsibility to ensure that new parents were met with words of hope and support rather than condolences, encouraging them to embrace the joy of parenthood.
On Jack’s first birthday, Carroll took a significant step forward. In a bid to rectify the guilt she felt surrounding their son’s birth, she delivered two care packages to other parents in the Minnesota hospital where Jack was born. The response was moving; parents expressed that the packages provided much-needed hope and were their only messages of congratulations.
This inspired the creation of Jack’s Basket. Since then, the organisation has expanded exponentially, reaching over 12,000 families across all 50 states and in 61 countries. The care packages, adorned with messages like “you make us better”, include items such as books and clothing to welcome new babies and their families warmly. For many parents, receiving these baskets is an emotional experience that signifies acceptance and community support.
Julie Eidy, who welcomed her son Cameron in 2024, received a Jack’s Basket shortly after her newborn’s open-heart surgery. “It showed that somebody else valued and loved her just as much,” she expressed, highlighting the nurturing atmosphere that Jack’s Basket fosters among families. Now an active volunteer with the organisation, Eidy describes her role as immensely rewarding and meaningful.
Carroll, in her capacity as CEO of Jack’s Basket, engages not only with new parents but also collaborates with hospitals and medical professionals to ensure they share accurate and compassionate information about Down syndrome. Her recent achievements have not gone unnoticed; this month, she was awarded the Betsy Goodwin Award by the National Down Syndrome Society for her outstanding impact in the field.
Reflecting on nearly a dozen years of her work with Jack’s Basket, Carroll commented on the unexpected scale of the organisation’s growth. “I mean, if we had left those baskets for Jack’s first birthday, it would have been a way to really have a redemption story,” she said, recognising the profound effect her initiative has had on countless families.
As tears welled up, Carroll acknowledged the significant learning curve she has navigated throughout this journey. Hearing from families about the impact of her work remains one of the most cherished aspects of her life. “It’s the greatest honour of my life,” she concluded, firmly rooted in her mission to transform the narrative surrounding Down syndrome and support families every step of the way.