Do people with Down syndrome suffer?

9:56 AM Posted In , 12 Comments »

I came across this on a forum I read and thought it was worth sharing...





Do People With Down syndrome Suffer?

By Kristy Colvin


Yesterday I received an email alert that brought up a discussion of Down syndrome. AskMen.com poses the question, "Would you keep a baby with Down syndrome? Does a person with Down syndrome really suffer in today's society? Should a test for this disorder even be an option for pregnant women?"


The responders of this debate come from all sides. The one question that struck me hard was "Does a person with Down syndrome really suffer in today's society?"


My answer is 'yes', but not the way most people who do not have a child with Down syndrome or mosaic Down syndrome think. A person with Down syndrome or mosaic Down syndrome does suffer.

They suffer from ignorance. Not their own-But the world's.

They suffer from discrimination. Not because they can not discriminate the differences between others-But because the world discriminates against them.

They suffer from communication problems. Not because they can not communicate- But because the world will not listenand communicate with them.

They suffer from misunderstanding. Not because they don't understand-But because the world refuses to understand them.

They suffer from learning problems. Not because they can not learn-But because the world believes they are not teachable.

They suffer from the inability to make friendships. Not because they are unable to be a friend-But because the world teaches their children to not associate with them.


Do people with Down syndrome suffer? Yes, unfortunately they do. But only because the world sees them as so incredibly different from themselves. If the world would stop and get to know-really know-someone with Down syndrome, they they would realize that they are no different than anyone else! Some may talk a little different, but that doesn't mean they don't know what they are saying! It just means they have trouble forming the words. Some may learn a little different, but that doesn't mean they can not learn! It means that like every single other person in the world, they learn at their own pace. Some may look a little different, but that doesn't mean something is "wrong"with them. Even identical twins look a little different from one another.


My son has mosaic Down syndrome. He is 22 years old. He likes RPG video games. He likes YouTube. He likes horror movies. He LOVES girls. He plans to have a family. He plans to have a career in computer graphics. He is a great writer and hopes to be published one day. He wants to travel. He would love to go to Japan. He likes hanging out with his friends. How different is he really to any other 22 year old?


This goes back to my statement years ago that became my Trademark:


The Only Handicap A Person Has Are The People Around Them!


The only thing people with Down syndrome or mosaic Down syndrome suffer from are the people in the world who do not believe they should be here in the first place.
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So true. Anyway, just thought I would share.
I was talking with my housekeeper the other day. She is a very sweet woman. I give her all of our outgrown clothing, toys, and other things we don't need anymore and she sends them to Mexico. She told me last month that she was getting ready to send a big shipment to her country for the holidays, so if I had anything for her, she would appreciate it. Of course we ALWAYS have things for her to take off of our hands, and I am grateful that she is making sure they get to people who could really use them.
Last week she thanked me for the bags I had given her the week prior. She said "I like to send a lot of these things to special needs shelters in my country." At first, I thought maybe she knew I had a child with special needs, but then I realized I had never told her. Did she just know? I then told her, "you know my daughter has Down syndrome." And she looked at me with bright eyes as I said "did you know that?" To which she replied, "no, I did not...did you know I have twins? Both of them are disabled. My son is autistic, and my daughter is legally blind." I was shocked and I imediately felt a bond between us...one that wasn't there before.
We talked for a few more minutes about our children. She said something to me that I have been thinking about quite a bit lately. She said, "you know, really...we're ALL disabled." I looked at her with confusion in my eyes. She said, "think about it...for these children to have made it through a pregnancy, they have to be pretty strong individuals don't you think?" I agreed.
When you really think about it, the odds are stacked against these miracles from the very beginning. For something so small to push forward and fight to withstand a pregnancy and make it through to birth, there has to be some sort of super-fighting powers in them. These people fight to make it in this world, and they always will. What did I do to get here? There were no odds stacked up against me. In a way, I am much more "disabled" than my daughter. She is a fighter...she always will be. And me...well, I'm just lucky enough to be her audience and biggest fan along the way!

the happiest.

7:00 AM Posted In , , 16 Comments »
I have been reading many-a-blogs lately, the majority of them written by mothers of designer babies. Tonight I realized something....something so powerful and encouraging. Out of all of these mother's, not one of them feels sorry for themselves. In fact, I will venture on to say these mother's are the HAPPIEST mother's there are, myself included.

Of course, 5 months ago I could have never imagined I would be typing these words. But HOLY SMOKES, I am HAPPY!

Almost six months ago I was thinking to myself how craptastic my life was. I was thinking about how we would never go on cool vacations...how my daughter would never get married or go to a highschool dance...or have sleepovers. I wish I could travel back in time and slap myself across the face and say "WAKE UP SHEREE!" I wish there would have been a crystal ball for me to peer into. That would have been fabulous.

I hear a lot of people say "your attitude is amazing" or "wow, you've really got it together." I find myself trying to disect those words after the fact, like when I am laying in bed at night..."Is my attitude really amazing? Do I really have it together?" The more I think about it, the more I realize...Gabby is a freakin' miracle worker. She makes my job of "doting mother" easy as pie. How could I not have anything but an amazing attitude?

In fact, it's not just me she has this effect over...it's anyone she happens to cross path's with. She brightens people's days...I see it often. I have yet to go out in public with her and NOT hear at least two people SQUEAL over her.

Four years ago I had a vision of "the perfect life." My perfect life consisted of my husband and I living in our fabulous home, driving our fabulous cars with three fabulous carseats in the back. Cameron came along and added more to my dream...my handsome boy. He would protect his baby sister...whenever she came along. We would have the all-around perfect, multicultural American Dream! My kids would excel in school and go to great colleges. Maybe one would be a doctor, a lawyer, or a school teacher. Then, we would retire and move to our beach house somewhere in Southern California. Our kids would come to visit every weekend. My husband and I would travel the world...just like in the movies.

Then the stork with the pink scarf came five months ago and crapped all over my dream... or so I thought at the time. I was happy for my beautiful girl, but let's get real...I was pissed off. I was in serious mourning. Where was my baby girl that would grow up to be a beauty queen, a cheerleader, a mother?!

BAM!
It was a reality check to say the least and it was needed BIG TIME. My eyes were opened for the first time ever. It wasn't about ME and MY dreams...this was much bigger. Gabby helped me see that there are bigger and greater plans for all of us that we will never expect. Even when something seems so dark, grim, and horrid...it's shaping us up for something bright, beautiful, and AMAZING!
Tonight I snuggled with the princess because she was in an extra cuddly mood. I knew I needed to go put her down in her crib but she was SO loveable, I just couldn't let her go. My heart feels so FULL of love that when I look at her, I feel like it might bubble over. As we sat there, chest to chest I thought to myself that maybe that extra 21 she carries around does a lot more than we think it does. Sometimes it causes heart defects, leukemia, discrimination and heartache...but over time, I think that with enough exposure to the extra 21, many, if not ALL, will feel a sense of love, compassion, gratitude, and hope that will far surpass what they would have felt had these very special people never come into their lives.
I love you Gabs! I am forever grateful to you for "altering" my plans...
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