New and Expectant Families

Prenatal Diagnosis: A Member’s Story

Everyone has a story to tell. I hope ours will encourage you. 

During my third pregnancy, we found ourselves at the 20-week ultrasound. We found out we would be adding another boy to our family! Everything was going smoothly until the technician couldn’t see something on Charlie’s heart. As a mom of two children already, staring up at the screen trying to see our baby’s heart, I just knew something didn’t look right. The ultrasound tech was asking me questions that I had never been asked in an ultrasound with my other children and things began to feel really awkward. The technician was very cold and never smiled once. Briskly she said, “It looks like your baby might have Down Syndrome.” She got up out of the chair and left the room. I was trying so hard to be brave and not cry and to just let those words sink into my heart.              

Down Syndrome? I knew nothing about Down Syndrome.

The doctor came in and urged us to come back the following week for another ultrasound to see if we could see all of Charlie’s heart. He was such a kind and compassionate doctor. I have thanked God so often for that man! The conclusion was that what we were looking for in Charlie’s heart couldn’t be found because it wasn’t there. Charlie had three chambers instead of four, along with a cleft valve. The technical name for his heart defect was an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), which is the most common heart defect among babies with Down Syndrome. We were told if he survived he would need open heart surgery.

A few weeks later we saw a pediatric cardiologist who confirmed that Charlie would indeed be born with a heart defect. I also took a blood test that confirmed Charlie would be born with Down Syndrome. When the geneticist called with the blood test results she said, “Hello, Nichole, I am calling to give you the results of the DNA test that you took last week. Unfortunately, your son will be born with Down Syndrome.”      

UNFORTUNATELY? My son?

Oh, the thoughts that were racing through my mind at that moment. Why do people presume that Down Syndrome is unfortunate? This is the mindset that scares people into thinking their child doesn’t have worth. This is the mindset that makes the abortion rate 9 out of 10 for women who receive a prenatal Down Syndrome diagnosis! The only thing unfortunate in this situation was the geneticist’s sorry attitude toward my son’s life!  

From that point forward the pregnancy was considered a “High-Risk Pregnancy”. We would go to ultrasounds almost every week to monitor Charlie’s progress. We were told that most babies with Down Syndrome do not make it to be born full term, which could complicate matters with Charlie’s heart. Our perinatal doctor and pediatric cardiologist were very gentle but honest in saying they could not guarantee that our son would live after he was born. This was extremely difficult to bear. 

Maybe you are reading this today and you have received a Down Syndrome diagnosis and you are filled with fear or worry for what the future holds for your child. Perhaps you feel inadequate to take care of the needs of a child who will have medical complications or need extra help. Maybe you think you won’t be “enough” for your child. Or maybe you are feeling guilty for being scared and overwhelmed by a lot of new information. Well, I’m here to tell you, all of the above, is completely okay and normal!  I believe I can safely say, most of us in this same situation have thought the exact same thoughts and felt the exact same way. 

Breathe. 

There is a lot of “bad” and “outdated” information out there about Down Syndrome. And not to mention, many doctors who present Down Syndrome as “doom and gloom”. You would think by now this would not be the case…but it just isn’t. 

Doctors and “professionals” can tell you a lot of statistics, numbers, and facts…and a lot of it doesn’t sound very promising or pretty…but do you know what they won’t EVER be able to tell you? They won’t ever be able to tell you what your child’s favorite color will be or describe their love for bananas or how on their first birthday they will cry because they were afraid of the candle. They won’t be able to describe how music makes your child’s face come to life! They won’t be able to describe the love you feel the first time you see your sweet baby’s face and kiss their fingers and toes!

They won’t be able to tell you that your child, who is born with a disability, will impact their siblings in a crazy profound way, instilling compassion, patience, and love for others.

And they definitely won’t be able to tell you that this child, although born with a broken heart or medically fragile and an extra 21st chromosome, this child, the one chosen for you, will teach you how to love deeper and stronger than you could have ever known was possible. They will teach you the meaning of real, true, deep love. The kind that fights for what is right, stands up for the truth no matter the cost, and helps you to reach down and become resilient like no Mother or Father has ever been. This child, this sweet babe, will teach you to see love in a different light. The kind that keeps hoping and never giving up for the good things in the world! This child, although “different” from the rest, will be the one who teaches you what humanity and kindness are all about. 

You may very well meet some people along the way who don’t understand these things. In fact, they may even be completely oblivious to them. Believe it or not, this is an opportunity to teach others about how our kids with Down Syndrome are actually more alike than different. Our children, if given the chance, can teach others some really good heart lessons. Our children are lights in a world that so badly needs goodness and kindness! Our children show others that miracles happen every-single-day!

And perhaps you are reading this thinking, “I’m not ready to conquer the world or put my kid out there to teach people nice things…I’m just trying to accept that my life has been flipped upside down.” That’s okay. One-day-at-a-time. It’s okay to be scared, nervous and fearful. Let all of that emotion out. Find someone who you can confide in. Someone you can be real with. You are not alone. 

I would be lying if I said that our lives are easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy. There are things that are difficult about having a child with Down Syndrome but I would like to say equally, there are things that are difficult with my children who do not have a diagnosis. We work extremely hard to help Charlie accomplish small tasks, sometimes for months at a time! There have been plenty of days where I have felt defeated, scared and lonely. Simply because sometimes we have worked so hard and seen little progress. However, the joy that comes from all of us helping Charlie to accomplish something as simple as drinking out of a straw far outweighs the difficult parts! Charlie’s life brings us together. Charlie’s life has been essential in teaching us all patience and acceptance for each others abilities, good or bad. 

What I want others to know about Down Syndrome is that it isn’t scary. My son and your children, they are so worthy! Worthy of love and affection and of any opportunity that comes along their way! They are world changers if only given the chance! They just need a chance! Are you willing to give them that chance?

So, my friend, welcome to this new journey called Down Syndrome! You will experience ups and downs. You will have high-highs and low-lows. You will have hard days, just like anyone who is a parent. One day, any fear or worry you have will melt away. One day you will find yourself jumping and screaming, elated with joy, celebrating a milestone that perhaps you thought was never possible and yet here you all are! You will realize that you now are part of a secret world full of some of the best people you will ever meet! You will daily witness miracles and I promise you-promise-your life will be changed-for the better.

Support and Conferences

Down Syndrome Diagnosis Retreat: http://www.dsdiagnosisnetwork.org/retreatregistration

Dear Mom Conference: https://www.dearmomconference.com