As you all know, Tucker was born with Down syndrome (Trisomy 21). This month we celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, March 21st (3 copies of the 21st chromosome) and I've seen lots of my Down syndrome community on facebook posting lots of different facts about DS. I have also seen where some parents of a child w/DS that maybe had a prenatal diagnosis created a pretty cool birth announcement for their child, including things about the diagnosis & what the future holds for them. I always thought that was so neat & have wished that Randall & I would have given our friends & family a heads up on things because it's hard trying to teach everyone as we go sometimes & can be emotionally stressful for both of us to try & explain things that we see as "normal" now. So, I've decided to put a few things out there so that people know more about Tucker.
First, I'd like to write a letter, basically what I wish I could go back & do so that there would be less confusion on things. Here goes....
Hello world! Tucker Cole Mitchell arrived December 9, 2009 at 7:52p.m. He was a tiny 4lbs & 17in. long. The next morning his pediatrician was making her rounds, giving all the new babies a clean bill of health. Sadly, we were told some physical characteristics made them think our little man may have something called Down syndrome and they would have to do further testing to make sure. It took a week for the results to get back. We held hands every night, crying & praying to God that it was all just a dream and that this sweet little boy would be perfectly healthy. While waiting for results, Tucker had 3 echocardiograms, numerous x-rays and bloodwork, an NG Tube (feeding tube), IV antibiotics, and oxygen, which meant he had to stay in the Special Care Nursery. We got a phone call from the pediatrician, test results were in. Randall & I couldn't wait to get to the hospital & find out so we asked her to tell us over the phone. Down syndrome...he had it & I was devastated. The first thought to cross my mind was, "what will happen to him when we are gone?".."How would this affect Emma?"..then many thoughts after that, pure worry was all I did for the next few days. Then, I came to a point where I realized this was it, God placed Tucker with us for a reason & I just had to put on my big girl panties & deal with it because this is life from now on whether we want to accept it or not. Since then we have researched & found out that it's not as bad as we thought. People with Down syndrome are delayed in some areas but they can do many things you & I can do. For instance, they can go to school, graduate, get jobs, some even date & get married..and, gasp!..have children of their own!!! Don't worry, your child cannot "catch" Tucker's Down syndrome, the only thing contagious about him is his smile & his laugh. And no, he isn't happy all the time, he gets mad & pitches a fit just like any other child. Also, nothing Randall or I did caused Tucker to have DS just to be clear on that matter, so no one's to "blame". Tucker is doing so many amazing things now, he can sign at least 10 signs & learns more & more everyday...he isn't talking right now but the sign language is helping him to communicate & we have faith that one of these days he will talk as much as Emma (if that's possible haha). It is a fact (& sorry I don't know numbers on this fact) that siblings of children with Down syndrome feel that their life has been enriched by having their brother/sister in their life; we can already tell that Emma loves her brother so much & I feel that she will be one of his biggest advocates as they grow up. To wrap things up, Tucker is our miracle baby...we have been back & forth to Atlanta more times than I'd like to even count & he sees many specialists but that's just part of life these days. Saying that, I don't think any of us would change a thing about him, he is perfect!
Facts about Down syndrome:
*Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition. One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome.
*The incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother. But due to higher fertility rates in younger women, 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.
*People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer's disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions. Many of these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives.
*Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to 60 today.
* Children with Down syndrome have been included in regular academic classrooms in schools across the country. In some instances they are integrated into specific courses, while in other situations students are fully included in the regular classroom for all subjects. The current trend in education is for full inclusion in the social and educational life of the community. Increasingly, individuals with Down syndrome graduate from high school with regular diplomas, participate in post-secondary academic and college experiences and, in some cases, receive college degrees.
*Once a woman has given birth to a baby with Trisomy 21, it is estimated that her chances of having another baby with Trisomy 21 is 1% greater than her chances by age alone.
*People “have” Down syndrome, they do not “suffer from” it and are not “afflicted by” it and it's not something your typical child can "catch" from my child.
*People with Down syndrome should always be referred to as people first. Instead of “a Down syndrome child,” it should be “a child with Down syndrome.” Also avoid “Down’s child” and describing the condition as “Down’s,” as in, “He has Down’s.”
For more information, visit www.ndss.org, www.atlantadsaa.org
Great job! :)
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