Lutherville, Maryland
My son Christopher was born in April. We did not know at first he had mds. There was some suspicion on one of my 4 ultrasounds when I was pregnant, but my doctor didn't feel there was anything else consistent with the down's. Needless to say, he didn't follow up with a amino.
It would explain alot now looking back in hindsight the events that took place. It wasn't until he was 5 weeks old that he was diagnosed. Unfortunately we had to go to the hospital because Christopher caught a "stomach bug" of some sort. The pediatrician that saw him had suggested doing some other workups on him. I didn't think anything of it. He doesn't have real strong features and he is my first. So I just thought things were normal, except that he slept all the time. I didn't know what low tone meant or should I say "floppy". Here my husband and I are going to the hospital for what we thought was a bug, which turned out to be, but also being struck with this ungodly idea he had Down syndrome.
Three days later Christopher was discharged from the hospital feeling better, but, with uncertainty, we still were waiting the results. I had already convinced myself what I didn't want to hear. My husband and I started reading and we came across this type of Down Syndrome. I had myself convinced that this is what he had. I never knew there were different types of ds. When the geneticist called a few days later, it was confirmed that Christopher had mds. I had a glimmer of hope, and it came true. What I really couldn't believe was that I went into the hospital with one thing and came out with another. I was devastated! I felt sad for my son. Not that I wasn't going to love him any less, but that other people might not. Then I started to think of all those dreams I had for him when he was born, I was afraid he wouldn't be able to fulfill any of those. Three months later, I'm realizing that isn't true. I still have days that I feel sad. And I don't ever think that will ever go away.
But I do know there is hope for Christopher. I can't tell you right now what he'll be like when he's older, but I can tell you he's a bright little baby and he's already proving me wrong with his abilities. He is a very active boy. Christopher wakes every morning talking to himself, pleasant as can be, wiggling around in his crib. We've started early intervention and they are just as pleased with him. They say he is very active for a child with ds. He is a very happy baby and he makes me proud every day. I just pray that God gives me the strength to love this boy with all my heart and to help him through whatever hardships he may encounter throughout the rest of his life. I'm the lucky one, Christopher chose me to be his parent!
Three days later Christopher was discharged from the hospital feeling better, but, with uncertainty, we still were waiting the results. I had already convinced myself what I didn't want to hear. My husband and I started reading and we came across this type of Down Syndrome. I had myself convinced that this is what he had. I never knew there were different types of ds. When the geneticist called a few days later, it was confirmed that Christopher had mds. I had a glimmer of hope, and it came true. What I really couldn't believe was that I went into the hospital with one thing and came out with another. I was devastated! I felt sad for my son. Not that I wasn't going to love him any less, but that other people might not. Then I started to think of all those dreams I had for him when he was born, I was afraid he wouldn't be able to fulfill any of those. Three months later, I'm realizing that isn't true. I still have days that I feel sad. And I don't ever think that will ever go away.
But I do know there is hope for Christopher. I can't tell you right now what he'll be like when he's older, but I can tell you he's a bright little baby and he's already proving me wrong with his abilities. He is a very active boy. Christopher wakes every morning talking to himself, pleasant as can be, wiggling around in his crib. We've started early intervention and they are just as pleased with him. They say he is very active for a child with ds. He is a very happy baby and he makes me proud every day. I just pray that God gives me the strength to love this boy with all my heart and to help him through whatever hardships he may encounter throughout the rest of his life. I'm the lucky one, Christopher chose me to be his parent!
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