What is Down Syndrome?

1)  Down syndrome was named after the doctor who first documented it, a British physician named Dr. Langdon DOWN.    It is NOT a reflection of the condition itself.

2) Down syndrome is not caused by maternal abuse (drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc).  It is a genetic "mismatch" at CONCEPTION.  ( A lot of birth-moms struggle because they wonder what they did to cause this to happen to their child).

3)  In a typical child, you have 23 PAIRS of chromosomes.  In Down syndrome, you have 3 copies of the 21st chromosome instead of just 2.  Down syndrome is also called Trisomy 21.  There is also something called MOSAIC Down syndrome, where only some of the cells in a child's body carry that 3rd copy.  These children are generally higher functioning with fewer medical complications. 

4)  Children with Down syndrome always resemble their parents.   They are not freaks or misshapen or deformed.  My son looks exactly like his grandfather.  The resemblance is striking!

5)  The extra chromosome affects every child in a different way.  A good number of children born with Down syndrome have minor heart defects, which are usually surgically corrected at about the 6 month age.  Sometimes it will cause significant health issues, like respiratory problems, major heart defects, and gastrointestinal perforations.  That is the outside 1%.  Reece was blessed to not have ANY health complications!  Every child with Down syndrome  has a different learning capacity, a different personality, a different soul, just as every typical child has!

6)  When you get your new child home, he/she will be able to be added to your family health insurance without problem.  Adoptions are considered births, and do not count as "pre-existing medical conditions".  She/he will also most likely be eligible for Medicaid, which would cover all of your co-pays, prescriptions, doctor visits, surgeries, ANYTHING.  We have never paid a single penny for Reece, not ever.

7)  Down syndrome is synonymous with THERAPY!  As an infant, these children (and others with disabilities), receive nearly free early intervention services.  First PT, then PT and OT, then they added speech.  At the age of 3, they go to our public schools in special classes (which by the way, I wish every school teacher was trained this way...my typical son is going to get GYPPED).  The bus comes and picks Reece up every morning at our door.  He loves his drivers, he loves his teachers, and he is the star everywhere he goes.   He/she will have an IEP (individualized education plan) which documents their strengths and weaknesses, and determines goals for the year and how they plan to achieve those goals.  IEP's include the parents as well!!  Personally, I think EVERY child should have an IEP....my own little Owen (pictured at right) will have his own strengths and weaknesses, even without Down syndrome.

8)  People are not going to point and stare at your child who has Down syndrome.  Birth parents always struggle with that fear.  People WILL come talk to you and love on your child because they themselves have  known someone who has Down syndrome.  Everyone who has ever been exposed to Down syndrome is a changed person in the most positive of ways.  These children and adults are truly inspirational.  They are messengers from Heaven, I truly believe that.   You will be proud as a peacock to have a child with Down syndrome.  You are joining an incredible FAMILY, and your position as the parent of a child with Down syndromes is a highly coveted one!  Did you know that there is a list of 200 families in the US WAITING for domestic Down syndrome adoptions?  That is what led me to start Reece's Rainbow...to raise awareness of the great need abroad, and how many children are waiting for families.

9)  One feature that impacts all children with Down syndrome is low muscle tone.  It causes them to take longer doing things like sitting up, rolling over, crawling, walking, climbing, hanging.  But they always get it, it just takes longer to build up their strength.  And my God, how many kids do you see in the Special Olympics?  That is an amazing feat, even for "normal" people!  Low muscle tone also accounts for that common "tongue thrust".  Sometimes, early in life (birth to 18 months), it can cause kids to have a little trouble chewing or swallowing.  This is almost always overcome, and your child will go on to have a healthy appetite!

10)  Other children in your family will thrive with a new sibling with Down syndrome in their lives.  Growing up, you don't need to tell them anything more than "he/she needs a little extra help", because that is the truth.  Down syndrome will be what they know the rest of their lives.  They will be better people for having a sibling like this in their lives, they will be more sensitive to others with disabilities, and they will grow up to be passionate, service-minded adults.  By choosing to adopt a child with Down syndrome (or any other disability), you set an incredible example of love, faith, and compassion for others in need.   Don't think for one second that this "lesson" won't filter down to your other children.  You serve the Lord and you share the teachings of Jesus in the gift of life you give to any adopted child.

11)  Children with Down syndrome definitely benefit from having  siblings to learn from too.  Reece was my first child, so he didn't have any examples.  Now that Owen is 2, those two are like twin tornados.  They both learn so much from each other.

                                                                   Reece and Owen                                                                           Dante and Isabella

Outside of all of the above, I can tell you without a doubt that you will never regret your decision to adopt a child with Down syndrome.  Every adoptive family faces adjustment issues in the early going after you return home.  That is unavoidable.  But the opportunity you have to change the course of a child's life forever...it's so powerful and so beautiful.  Don't think twice....follow the "word".