Viewers who are interested in mowing more about life in a household with fourteen children might just want to check out a new reality show on TLC. In Doubling Down With The Derricos, parents Karen and Deon raise their slew of children as they make it through the trails of daily life, from chores to prayer time.
While the family seems to foster a sense of unity and closeness— even holding group dance sessions in the living room— it is also fair to say that the crew has faced its share of tragedy.
One particularly dramatic moment involves baby Dawson, who was diagnosed with a life-threatening heart condition within her first hours of life. Another, even more painful event involved the loss of newborn Carter Derrico.
Karen Speaks Out
Because the death of a child tends to have such a traumatic impact on a family, not all parents of a deceased baby would necessarily be comfortable speaking out about the tragedy. Karen Derrico, however, had no issue opening up about her feelings with reference to the loss of her son Carter.
On August 26, 2020 TLC posted a two minute and forty-seven second video to their official YouTube channel in which Karen and Deon reveal their feelings about their devastating experiences.
For one thing, they admit that one of the most difficult aspects of Carter’s passing was the way their children reacted. “When Carter passed away, of course, the children took it extremely hard,” Karen told producers.
They also open up about the ways in which past experiences of loss have informed the way they feel about baby Dawson’s heart surgeries. “It’s a battle, literally, trying to stay strong through all of this,” Karen confessed.
Keeping The Sunny Side Up
While Karen focused on the pain of the past, her husband seemed to be fighting to see hope in the future.
In a kitchen conversation with his wife, Deon offered some words of faith. He agreed that the past was painful but chose instead to emphasize the importance of positive thinking, especially in their case. “In our situation, we gotta keep cognizant and mindful of speaking it positive, because we know the alternative,” he shared.
To follow the family and their plans, tune in to TLC on Wednesdays at 10 pm ET.
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