Did you know that October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month? Last October, I was pregnant with Alice and we had no idea that our little one was rocking an extra chromosome. This October, we're happily celebrating!
Before Alice, I had no idea that 1 out of every 700 babies is born with Down syndrome. Or that there are 6,000 babies in the United States born with Down syndrome every year. Or that it's the most common chromosomal condition in the world! We didn't know these things because it's not talked about enough.
There is such a horrible stigma around Down syndrome. I remember when Alice was born, I thought our lives were over. Little did I know, they were just beginning.
So, in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I want to spread awareness! The true story of Down syndrome. That it's nothing to be scared about. That it's nothing to fear or dread. And that it's actually something to be celebrated!
Down Syndrome Awareness Day video
One of my friends (@cedarsstory on Instagram) has a little boy named Cedar who has Down syndrome. He is adorable and beautiful! She put together a very moving video for Down Syndrome Awareness Month. It's a compilation of babies all around the country who have Down syndrome. She asked Alice to participate, so of course I said yes! (#stagemom...) The video is quickly going viral!
By following these Instagram accounts, I hope you'll get a little glimpse into what Down syndrome really looks like. There's nothing scary about it. Nothing imperfect about it. Nothing down about it. That's why I say we've been celebrating "up syndrome" since Alice was born!
Without further ado, here's the video:
https://www.cedarsstory.com/down-syndrome-i-am-worth-it/
We're the luckiest...
I was talking to one of my friends the other day who also has a baby with Down syndrome. (Her Instagram name is @somethingalittleextra if you want to follow her too!) We were talking about how random Down syndrome is, and why certain people have kids with Down syndrome and others don't. She sent me this story...
Who knows why Down syndrome occurs? Why does the extra 21st chromosome stick to the cell when the fertilized egg begins its first cell division?
It can be compared to what happens in nature, to a field of clover. Usually, we see three leaves on each clover. Once in awhile, however, we find a clover that has an extra leaf, making it a four-leaf clover. We don't know why Mother Nature decided to add that extra leaf... she just did.
There is no obvious explanation for it. All of the clover plants grew in the same soil. All were exposed to the same sun and rain. Mother Nature just decided to add an extra leaf to a few clovers in the huge clover patch. This doesn't make them any better or worse than the other clovers... it just makes them different. And it is widely believed that four-leaf clovers bring good luck...
It is much the same way with an extra chromosome. We don't know why Mother Nature didn't let the cell divide evenly, but she didn't. She decided to add another chromosome to that baby's cells. It doesn't make that baby better or worse than the other babies... it just makes him or her different.
And, if you find yourself the mom or dad one of those four-leaf clovers... one of those extra-special babies... then you are truly lucky. For they are the most special babies who grow into the most special people. And... you are truly... the luckiest.
This is so moving and so true! Why are babies with Down syndrome oftentimes viewed as not as good as other "typical" babies? Why are so many babies with Down syndrome aborted simply because they have Down syndrome?
The moms and dads who get blessed with four-leaf clovers as our children... we are the lucky ones. And, I don't think there's any coincidence that Alice was born one week early... on the luckiest day of the year... St. Patrick's Day.
Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! I hope that Alice and I have changed your perspective on Down syndrome today. Maybe you'll get a little four-leaf clover baby of your own someday. If you're lucky!
Before Alice, I had no idea that 1 out of every 700 babies is born with Down syndrome. Or that there are 6,000 babies in the United States born with Down syndrome every year. Or that it's the most common chromosomal condition in the world! We didn't know these things because it's not talked about enough.
There is such a horrible stigma around Down syndrome. I remember when Alice was born, I thought our lives were over. Little did I know, they were just beginning.
So, in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I want to spread awareness! The true story of Down syndrome. That it's nothing to be scared about. That it's nothing to fear or dread. And that it's actually something to be celebrated!
Down Syndrome Awareness Day video
One of my friends (@cedarsstory on Instagram) has a little boy named Cedar who has Down syndrome. He is adorable and beautiful! She put together a very moving video for Down Syndrome Awareness Month. It's a compilation of babies all around the country who have Down syndrome. She asked Alice to participate, so of course I said yes! (#stagemom...) The video is quickly going viral!
- In the video, you'll see @cedarsstory's son Cedar at the very beginning where it says, "Lots of people know what Down syndrome looks like."
- At the 2:34 mark, you'll see my friend Taylor's son Treg. You can follow her on Instagram: @thehouseofwheeler
- At the 2:47 mark, you'll see twin boys named Charlie and Milo! Instagram: @chucklesandmeatloaf
- At the 2:59 mark, you'll see our heaven sent baby girl! Instagram: @wonderlandmommyblog
- At the 3:06 mark, you'll see my friend Kelsi and her two boys with Down syndrome! Her biolgical son Colt is 4, and her adopted son Nic is 3. Instagram: @downrightwonderful
- At the 3:44 mark, you'll see my friend Katie's son Sutton! Instagram: @sweet.on.sutton
By following these Instagram accounts, I hope you'll get a little glimpse into what Down syndrome really looks like. There's nothing scary about it. Nothing imperfect about it. Nothing down about it. That's why I say we've been celebrating "up syndrome" since Alice was born!
Without further ado, here's the video:
https://www.cedarsstory.com/down-syndrome-i-am-worth-it/
We're the luckiest...
I was talking to one of my friends the other day who also has a baby with Down syndrome. (Her Instagram name is @somethingalittleextra if you want to follow her too!) We were talking about how random Down syndrome is, and why certain people have kids with Down syndrome and others don't. She sent me this story...
Who knows why Down syndrome occurs? Why does the extra 21st chromosome stick to the cell when the fertilized egg begins its first cell division?
It can be compared to what happens in nature, to a field of clover. Usually, we see three leaves on each clover. Once in awhile, however, we find a clover that has an extra leaf, making it a four-leaf clover. We don't know why Mother Nature decided to add that extra leaf... she just did.
There is no obvious explanation for it. All of the clover plants grew in the same soil. All were exposed to the same sun and rain. Mother Nature just decided to add an extra leaf to a few clovers in the huge clover patch. This doesn't make them any better or worse than the other clovers... it just makes them different. And it is widely believed that four-leaf clovers bring good luck...
It is much the same way with an extra chromosome. We don't know why Mother Nature didn't let the cell divide evenly, but she didn't. She decided to add another chromosome to that baby's cells. It doesn't make that baby better or worse than the other babies... it just makes him or her different.
And, if you find yourself the mom or dad one of those four-leaf clovers... one of those extra-special babies... then you are truly lucky. For they are the most special babies who grow into the most special people. And... you are truly... the luckiest.
This is so moving and so true! Why are babies with Down syndrome oftentimes viewed as not as good as other "typical" babies? Why are so many babies with Down syndrome aborted simply because they have Down syndrome?
The moms and dads who get blessed with four-leaf clovers as our children... we are the lucky ones. And, I don't think there's any coincidence that Alice was born one week early... on the luckiest day of the year... St. Patrick's Day.
Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! I hope that Alice and I have changed your perspective on Down syndrome today. Maybe you'll get a little four-leaf clover baby of your own someday. If you're lucky!
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