Being Born with Down Syndrome

Every pregnancy is special and unique just as each and every child that is born into this world is. Each month, we watch these beautiful bellies grow and grow, changing ever so quickly, the baby inside developing into that beautiful bundle we just can’t wait to hold and love for the rest of our lives. We start dreaming about what they will look like, what games they’ll like to play and what their personality will be like.

All of our appointments are kept diligently to ensure that the little one growing inside us is strong and healthy. No matter how uncomfortable, we endure all the series of tests for birth defects and anxiously await the results. No matter what the outcome we will love them to the fullest and each time the tests come back normal. But what about those parents who do all the testing, have a great pregnancy, everything is routine just as it was with their first born, only to deliver and hours later, find that their new bundle of joy isn’t breathing; that all the diligent testing and results were wrong?

On February 7th a beautiful baby boy was born, shortly after underdogs, the Saints, won the Super Bowl. Phone calls and texts were sent with lightning speed announcing his perfect arrival, both in health and timing. The proud, new Mom and Dad take a breath and a moment to bask in the unexplainable joy that only a parent can truly understand. They lay their bundle of joy in his hospital crib so Mom can get some rest only to turn around and find a nurse taking their new bundle in a panic. He has stopped breathing and their hearts come to a stop. Again, phone calls and texts go out as fast as a blink.

The doctors get baby breathing again but he can’t do it on his own. They take a much closer look at this precious child lying helpless in front of them and notice some very distinct traits. His tiny little ears are a little too tiny, the palms of his soft, sweet hands wear a deep crease across the middle and his kissable, beautiful little face is lacking in the normal muscle tone. Baby T has Down Syndrome and no one saw it coming. Every drop of blood that was taken from Mom, each ultrasound that was conducted told them that everything was perfectly normal and assured that there was nothing to worry about. Phone calls and texts go out at lightning speed again as well as prayers for the very young couple.

Genetic counselors begin discussing matters with the new Mom and Dad. This is not something they were prepared for. This isn’t what they had planned for their son or for their family. Their research begins and their questions and worries for the present and future pour out of them in tears of sadness, joy, confusion and anger all rolled into one. Again they wonder, what will he look like, what games will he like to play and what will his personality be like? But the one thing they are already for sure about is how much they love him.