Meet Martha

Meet Martha, a member of the Dr. Noze Best team and someone whose story is deeply connected to Dr. Noze Best’s mission. We believe everyone deserves equal access to opportunities, and supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families is one of the ways we work toward that mission. 

In our new Moments with Martha series, Martha will share her experiences, perspectives, and the things that matter most to her. 

To start, Martha is introducing herself and sharing what living with Down syndrome, inclusion, and having her voice heard mean to her. 

Hi everyone! My name is Martha Haythorn. I am a 26-year-old young woman with Down syndrome. I was born in Nashville, Tennessee. 

I am an extrovert, which means that I am really social and love being included. My personality is faithfully driven, with a huge heart, and I love being included in all fun things that involve people. I am determined to be a hard worker no matter what it is. I love to work hard. 

I love advocating for change for all individuals with developmental disabilities by sharing my own journey living with Down syndrome. I use my own experiences to be a leader for everyone with disabilities and without disabilities throughout my whole community. 

I want to make healthy choices. I want to be fully included. I also want to get married. 

I am not Down syndrome. I am a whole young woman who has a whole life in front of her. Having Down syndrome does not stop me from living my life. 

I want my voice to be heard. I see myself as a leader who wants to make social justice and social change for all. 

I have a paid job at Dr. Noze Best. Dr. Steven Goudy is my doctor and is also the founder of Dr. Noze Best. He is a Pediatric Ear, Nose and Throat doctor who had the idea to create a device called the NozeBot, which is a safe, hospital-grade suction that provides fast, gentle relief from everyday sniffles and severe congestion. 

I help with medical research and data review and analysis. I also help the social media team and help arrange events for my staff and me. 

We do things in our own time and at our own pace, and that is part of our own life experience. My whole life means a lot to me because God always reminds me that this is my mountain, and going up is better than looking and running away because the view is the real you. 

I am not running from Down syndrome. I’d rather be myself. I’d rather be me than hide from who I am. Because this is me, and I am living my sound of chromosomal music. 

I wish people could understand that it's not easy to use public transportation all the time. It's a great resource, but we do face barriers. 

We rely on our parents to drive us to our social events or work trainings, and young adults want to learn how to get around their communities on their own. 

There is Lyft or a train option, but there's a financial barrier there too. You have to pay for a train card, and you pay every time for Lyft rides. You also have to pay to add rides to your train card. Math can be hard, especially for people with disabilities. 

If I had a magic wand, I would make all of this cheaper and a reasonable price that's more equal for everyone to afford. 

Inclusion means so much to me because you get more involved in your community, and having different abilities should never stop you from having those meaningful connections. 

It gives you more confidence as a person and helps you realize your own social abilities. 

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for people with disabilities. Ever since I got involved with Best Buddies, I have felt included and connected with other young women. We practice communicating with each other and building connections when we feel comfortable doing so. My entire social circle just expanded in a huge way and gave me even more friendships, confidence, and motivation in myself. 

I can say Best Buddies has changed my whole life for the better, and I have been changed for good.