Down Syndrome, A Family Perspective

Down Syndrome, A Family Perspective

We received a call 16 months ago that forever changed our lives.  We were asked to adopt a baby boy with down syndrome - Noah.

We weren't new to adoption as we had already adopted eleven other children, but we were new to parenting a child with down syndrome.  Noah was extremely floppy at birth and was born with a severe heart defect that would need open heart surgery at 4 months of age.  He was also hospitalized two more times with pneumonia at 7-8 months old.  At 14 months old, he had one other surgery to remove his adenoids, tonsils and uvula because of some sleep obstruction. Despite a tough first year medically, he has consistently not lagged too far behind developmentally with gross motor being his biggest delay.  Before kids, I was an early intervention teacher and so he is always being challenged and encouraged to reach that next step. 

Noah brings such immense JOY to our family.  I often comment that I'd adopt 10 more just like him- we adore him!  His smile draws people across the room no matter where we are, and he just oozes love- we call Trisomy 21 the "love chromosome"!  We treat and parent him like we would any of our other 11 children- with love, routine and consistent boundaries.  In fact, one of the first signs he learned was "no-no"!  With 9 out of 10 babies with down syndrome detected prenatally being aborted, Noah is a bright light to a dying community of people with down syndrome.  We are forever grateful to his birth parents for allowing us to raise him into the incredible man he is already becoming.  People with down syndrome can teach the rest of us about slowing down, celebrating each milestone for the miracle it is, and unconditional love.  Our world would be a better place if more people took the time to learn the lessons they so freely teach. 

-Kim Ellens Green