Berkley, Massachusetts
I am not the mother, but the aunt of two beautiful Down Syndrome children.
My sister Meghan and I were pregnant at the same time five years ago. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl three weeks prior to her emergency c-section. I was the coach because Meghan was a single mother.
My sister Meghan and I were pregnant at the same time five years ago. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl three weeks prior to her emergency c-section. I was the coach because Meghan was a single mother.
When Toby was born, he had multiple problems. Toby had an occluded airway compliments of the muconium plug, which he had already passed. He was slowly recovering from the lack of oxygen and loss of body heat when the nurse in the nursery let one of his little feet become unwrapped. My first thought was "What ugly feet! Must be his father's." I patiently waited to be allowed to enter the nursery, when the charge nurse came out to tell me the news. The doctor suspected that Toby had Down Syndrome and that once they had him somewhat stable they would be transferring him to Boston Children's Hospital. I admit I cried at first. I was always the strong one. I had to compose myself, call home to check on my newborn, and go see how Meghan was recovering from the news given.
Meghan soon became the strength for me and our family. She said, "I couldn't ask for a more beautiful little boy, he has 10 fingers and 10 toes, just as I had prayed he would."
Toby was soon transferred to Boston where he was found to be 65% affected. He had to spend several weeks in the hospital to regulate his inability to suck and maintain body heat. He was found to have a "hole" in his heart which may have needed surgery later. He came home at six weeks to his anxious family where he has been nurtured and loved to this day.
Meghan was to be heavily involved with Early Intervention from that point on. They are wonderful and supportive. To go to just one of their many functions just makes you happy to be alive.
Jeremy, an old boyfriend, came back into Meghan's and now into Toby's life a little more than one year ago. He was the father that Toby never really knew. He gave him gentle guidance and strong moral support and is now in the process of adopting Toby.
Meghan and Jeremy soon found out they were pregnant and both were elated with the news. The pregnancy went along uneventful. Meghan was offered testing but she declined for she had been told she had less than one percent chance of having another Down Syndrome child. It would not have mattered anyway. Well, "Pretty Pretty Princess", Margret Louise, known to us as Maggie Lou, was born just seven weeks ago. Unlike her brother Toby she had no respiratory, cardiac or temperature regulating difficulties. My sister lie holding her husband and I the auntie stood at bedside as proud as a peacock! I was so proud of how well Meghan did and how beautiful Maggie Lou was. Then my sister looked at me, smiled and said "she has Toby's feet." Only I knew what that meant. As my brain feverishly attempted to register what my sister had just said, the doctor came into the room with tears in her eyes. She said to Meghan, "you know what I have to tell you?" Meghan nodded and replied, "I knew from the moment I saw her, she was going to be just as special". She cried only a little, I think more so for her husband. I think she feared he would run just as Toby's dad did. But Jeremy is different. I truly feel he was sent from God to make all things right.
Maggie was allowed to leave the hospital on day three of birth with a visiting nurse to come monitor her bilirubin light and levels. We went to Boston as suggested by her pediatrician. Maggie was tested and found to be 100% affected though shows no other than some facial features and of course, her feet, of having Down Syndrome. She is breastfed solely and is doing remarkably well. She shows no deficits in hearing or vision and neurologically she is responding accordingly. She is loved deeply by all but particularly by Toby who has even attempted to feed "baby" by lifting his shirt in an attempt to feed her saying "K baby K." It is a sight to behold!
I hope to hear from others about their trails and strengthening stories. In a way our children will grow up together!
Meghan soon became the strength for me and our family. She said, "I couldn't ask for a more beautiful little boy, he has 10 fingers and 10 toes, just as I had prayed he would."
Toby was soon transferred to Boston where he was found to be 65% affected. He had to spend several weeks in the hospital to regulate his inability to suck and maintain body heat. He was found to have a "hole" in his heart which may have needed surgery later. He came home at six weeks to his anxious family where he has been nurtured and loved to this day.
Meghan was to be heavily involved with Early Intervention from that point on. They are wonderful and supportive. To go to just one of their many functions just makes you happy to be alive.
Jeremy, an old boyfriend, came back into Meghan's and now into Toby's life a little more than one year ago. He was the father that Toby never really knew. He gave him gentle guidance and strong moral support and is now in the process of adopting Toby.
Meghan and Jeremy soon found out they were pregnant and both were elated with the news. The pregnancy went along uneventful. Meghan was offered testing but she declined for she had been told she had less than one percent chance of having another Down Syndrome child. It would not have mattered anyway. Well, "Pretty Pretty Princess", Margret Louise, known to us as Maggie Lou, was born just seven weeks ago. Unlike her brother Toby she had no respiratory, cardiac or temperature regulating difficulties. My sister lie holding her husband and I the auntie stood at bedside as proud as a peacock! I was so proud of how well Meghan did and how beautiful Maggie Lou was. Then my sister looked at me, smiled and said "she has Toby's feet." Only I knew what that meant. As my brain feverishly attempted to register what my sister had just said, the doctor came into the room with tears in her eyes. She said to Meghan, "you know what I have to tell you?" Meghan nodded and replied, "I knew from the moment I saw her, she was going to be just as special". She cried only a little, I think more so for her husband. I think she feared he would run just as Toby's dad did. But Jeremy is different. I truly feel he was sent from God to make all things right.
Maggie was allowed to leave the hospital on day three of birth with a visiting nurse to come monitor her bilirubin light and levels. We went to Boston as suggested by her pediatrician. Maggie was tested and found to be 100% affected though shows no other than some facial features and of course, her feet, of having Down Syndrome. She is breastfed solely and is doing remarkably well. She shows no deficits in hearing or vision and neurologically she is responding accordingly. She is loved deeply by all but particularly by Toby who has even attempted to feed "baby" by lifting his shirt in an attempt to feed her saying "K baby K." It is a sight to behold!
I hope to hear from others about their trails and strengthening stories. In a way our children will grow up together!
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