A Down Syndrome Story - The Beginning

Our Down Syndrome Story begins here...

Sam has Down Syndrome. His "story" began before he was even conceived. In March of 2001 we were expecting our 7th child. I still remember the call we received from the doctor's office telling us that the AFP test came back positive for an increased risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome. They reassured me that this did not necessarily mean that the baby would have Down Syndrome, merely that there was an increased likelihood. We declined to have an amniocentesis (because of the risk of miscarriage) but did have an ultrasound during which the doctor found a thick translucency of the nuchal fold (a fold of skin at the back of the baby's neck). This is one of the telltale signs (they call it a "soft" sign) of a baby with Down Syndrome.

Devastation

We were devastated. Me, have a retarded child?! No way. I told God there was no way I would be able to handle a baby with Down Syndrome. I begged and pleaded, we prayed. I was always uncomfortable around kids who were not exactly what society describes as "normal". Surely God would not give me one of "those" kids.

The Big Day

After 5 agonizing months (I did eventually get a book on Down Syndrome) we were blessed with a perfect little girl. God had answered our prayers. That Thanksgiving our thanks was for our "normal", which I have found to be a relative term, baby girl.

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