October 9, 2008 11:17 AM
Life with Down syndrome - share your experience
GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has an infant son with Down syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that causes a variety of birth defects including mild to severe intellectual disabilities.Is your life touched by Down syndrome? Are you rearing a child with Down syndrome? Are you an adult with Down syndrome and living on your own? Share your experience. Your story could be on CNN.
Read stories and/or share your own here.
Posted in Down syndrome | Permalink
Comments
I don't have a personal experience, but I did write this month's cover article for our city's parent magazine about raising special needs children to become independent. Here's the link from which you can download a PDF, if you're interested:
http://www.parentwiseaustin.com/
Posted by: Hannah | October 9, 2008 2:48 PM
My life was blessed with my son Kaleb Dawson on November 13, 2006. Life has never been the same since. At first it seemed like the road ahead was going to be a neverending struggle. I didnt know much about down syndrome and I didn't want to believe that my child would have any disease. My prenatal test showed positive and I went to see a genetic specialist and to have a more high tech ultrasound done. The doctor said the test wouldn't be accurate because the baby's position and because of my larger size. I believe I knew then that Kaleb would be born with down syndrome. No matter how long doctors practice there is still some that show in their eyes and voice that things aren't right. Reading information on this syndrome made me cry because all I wanted was a healthy child and from the look of things that wasnt going to happen. I had already had a stillborn daughter 1 year before and I felt cheated because how could one be taken away and then to have my son be faced with all these medical conditions and possibly not live long after birth. I thought the worst was about to happen on top of the fright I could have another still born at 38 weeks. Or worse have my son and he would pass not long after being born. My mind raced until the moment my son was born. I saw him for 2 seconds before he was rushed off. He wasn't breathing well on his own. As soon as you see that wonderful child nothing else matters. Downs or no downs he is one of the best things I have ever had happen to me. My philosophy is that every family should be blessed with a child with down syndrome. Maybe everyone would stop and realize that it dosent matter if your child is behind or a slow learner or the most brilliant child ever. All that matters is that their your child and your life is blessed just because of that precious life. My son isn't even 2 yet but he shows more love and passion then alot of adults that I have been in contact with. There is so many things that children with downs struggle with every day but they make it through and reach their goals. They aren't any different from the rest of us, in fact I feel they are even more strong willed then alot of us will be in our life times. Life for us now is therapy and schedules to make Kaleb's life better. It dosent matter how busy life gets though because those beautiful blue eyes and amazing little smile make you realize everything is going to be fine no matter the ending. The world should stop labeling children as a child with Down Syndrome. They learn at a different pace but what child doesn't. Sometimes I wish I had half the heart and determination that I already see in my son. I couldn't trade this wonderful blessing for anything in the world.
Posted by: Mary Brown | October 22, 2008 2:03 AM
