Posted on 12/14/2002 8:51:04 AM PST by LoneGOPinCT
I am pleased to announce the birth of our son! He is child #3, boy #2. He was born via C-section one full week before his scheduled birth and two weeks prior to his actual due date. Needless to say he threw us for a loop so it's taken us this past couple weeks to get everything straightened out that we thought we had another week to do.
He and Mrs.Lone are both doing fine. The little guy was born with Down's Syndrome (a surprise to us-no history, both under 35 & no testing during pregnancy because it wouldn't have mattered anyway), however we are very lucky that he doesn't show any signs of coronary or digestive problems that are very common with children with Down's. The combination of him being early and having DS has slowed the closing of two bypass valves in his heart (they exist in all children but generally close up prior to birth, AKA "the hole in the heart"), but the cardiologist is fairly confident that they will close up on their own and his heart looks otherwise very healthy. If not, they run a catheter into the valve and essentially scratch it with a small wire to promote scarring to close it up. He is very attentive and shows good tracking skills, good head and neck movements, no narrowing of the rib cage (also very common in DS kids), and has surpising strength so the pediatrician is very optimistic about his future.
We know it is going to be a tough road but as his Doc says, nowadays there is no reason to rule out anything for children with DS, especially the more mild cases. They are no longer institutionalized and as such have greatly benefitted from a "normalized" environment when it comes to teaching them early on and adapting them to social (i.e. school, friends, family) situations.
Some people don't quite know how to react when we tell them he has DS and in turn seem sympathetic. Trust me, we don't need sympathy. We feel blessed to have this little guy and are facing it head-on. As a few have told us, HIS prayers have been answered. It is all about him, not us. Right now he is like any other newborn. Eat, poop, sleep. We'll tackle any other obstacles as we come upon them.
We are still adjusting, but are coping surprisingly well. He's just such a cute little bugger that it probably helps! So no need to feel sympathetic, but please keep us in your thoughts and prayers to help guide us and give us the strength to keep us on track to best benefit HIM. We already consider ourselves lucky and will do our best to make sure he benefits from it!
Now, have a cigar for me!
I was nearly 35 when my son was on the way. The Dr. suggested amnio as a precaution. As I recall, the stats were 1 in 600 that the baby would be Downs, 1 in 200 that the procedure would cause a problem with the pregnancy.
I said, do the math, that I'd have the baby no matter what. He was fine.
DS children are SO sweet. I will be praying for your entire family - God has much special in store for you all.
God's blessings to all the family.
Regards, Ivan
Red
What a wonderful Christmas gift.
My pleasure, FRiend... Congrats to you and yours, and God bless y'all.
Never buy into the 'normal' crap that so many people seem to be worried about. Down Syndrome children raised in a loving, accepting home grow into guileless, open, honest, accepting and loving adults that are an asset to our communities.
Will trials come? Yes, but they do for all of us. When your son looks you in the eye and says "I love you", you will know that he means it with all his heart and that there are no ulterior motives behind it (ie I love you can I borrow the car, I love you can I borrow some money,etc.). And in those moments, any trials, tribulations and hardships will seem like nothing.
"Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father which is in heaven."
Matthew 18:10
Again, congratulations to all your family...and a speedy recovery from the C-section for you wife!
karri
And it sounds to me as if he might be just as lucky as you are. He's "caught" himself quite a dad, IMO. What a lovely article you have written. I hope you save it so he can read it himself one day.
Well deserved joys to come, definitely.
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