Troubling Articles

I know that I'm supposed to continue Andrew's Birth story. But today I came upon two articles about the birth rates of babies with Down Syndrome in the UK and I was troubled and had to share.

This are the links to these article:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/downs-syndrome-births-drop-uk/story?id=8925638

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091027/hl_afp/britainwomanhealthdownsmaternity_20091027162053

I am VERY UPSET that they can't even use the proper terms! It's NOT Down's Syndrome...it's Down Syndrome. It's NOT a Down's baby...it's a baby with Down Syndrome! But the facts about abortion rates are scary. I wish that people knew more than the "risks" of having a baby with Down Syndrome! I wouldn't trade my son for anything! My son is the most mild-mannered, happy boy that I've ever seen. At almost three years old, he is thriving! Although he doesn't speak much, he gestures and signs and we UNDERSTAND him. We know what he wants as well as he does. He comforts us when we are sick and hugs his little sister when she falls and cries. His future is just as bright as any other child. He will be a contributing member of society. Will he go to college? Well, that's up to him. But, he will have a place to live, either on his own or with his family. He'll have chores to do and he'll have a job to make money to buy the things that he wants and needs.

And, you know what, he is going to be happy. He is going to be happy because he is surrounded by his family and his friends who love him and support him in whatever he chooses to do with his life. He will reach for the stars and he will reach them. As his mother, it is my job to help him just as I will help his siblings. He is no different from them. He just has a little something extra. So there is more of him to love!

I found the website of the company whose writer published one of the articles. I sent an email asking them to use the proper terminology for the diagnosis. Please consider doing the same. The website address is: http://www.medpagetoday.com.

Knowledge is power and I'm just trying to do my part to educate those who don't know!

UPDATE: I received an email of apology from the editor. It reads:
Dear Mrs. Yahara,

I would like to apologize for our Down syndrome mistake. As the editor of the story, I not only read it and made normal editorial changes in it, but discussed it with our reviewer, who knew the doctor it quoted. We all let this go by. I have corrected the very same mistake myself in many stories (and usually watch for it because we have a close family friend, now 26, with Down syndrome). I can only say I will try to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Regards,
Mike Himowitz

Michael J. Himowitz
Deputy Managing Editor
MedpageToday.com
http://www.medpagetoday.com"
"

Andrew's Birth Story

It was Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 8:05am. My first baby, Andrew was just born via C-section. I was waiting and waiting for his first cry, the cry that would let me know that he was indeed here and he was all right. Finally, it came--a tiny little cry that brought tears to my eyes. I looked over at Chris and we smiled together. Our son was finally here.

While we were waiting for the pediatrician who were working on Andrew to bring bring him over to us so we could get our first look at our son, we chatted with the anesthesiologist who was at my head. Finally a doctor came over to us, without Andrew. She looked at me and said, "It appears that your son has a genetic anomaly. We will need to do further testing." And with that she walked away. Chris and I looked at each other and then he looked at the anesthesiologist. He asked her what that meant. She said that she didn't know.

Finally, Andrew was brought over to us. Chris took him in his arms and showed him to me. He was beautiful and he looked just like his daddy. I looked into his eyes and then I realized what it was, the genetic anomaly that the doctor was talking about. Andrew has Down Syndrome. My first-born child has Down Syndrome. I looked at Chris and told him. I will never forget what he said to me. "Andrew was given to us for a reason. We were chosen to have him and we are being trusted to take care of him." And he was right! We very very lucky to have Andrew come into our life and we were going to help him become the best person that he can be. And we are going to learn from him, much more than he will learn from us.

YAY! I did it!

Well, I'm finally here...my own blog. Now what? I hardly know where to start here. My husband, Chris, and I have two children--- "Our Wiggle Bugs!" Our first Wiggle Bug, Andrew, is almost 3 years old already and our second Wiggle Bug, Hailey, is almost 15 months old. You'll find by following me and my family, that I am ALL about my family. I am a MOM first. I enjoy spending time with them and doing whatever I can for them to make them happy.

I started this blog to mostly share my experiences as a mom. It is important to know that my son has Down Syndrome. Instead of 46 chromosomes, Andrew has has 47 (that's an extra 21st chromosome). I call him "Chromosomally Enhanced". It is going to take longer for him to learn things, but he will learn. It's taking longer for him to talk due to his low muscle tone, a common characteristic. But he is my son, and I love him more than anything, the same as I love my daughter.

Well, that's where we start for now. Soon, I'll get this really going and share my life as I began my journey into motherhood with the story of Andrew's birth.

Love to all!
Kim :)