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| The first time I held Jillian |
I was one of the fortunate ones, my grief lasted but a moment. My heart was won over by Trisomy 21 before Jillian was born. I could not have imagined, thought of, wished for anyone different than our baby girl. I don’t know why but I was excited at the thought of my child being born with Down syndrome. That response is not typical, at all. When I look back at how enthusiastic I was, I am sure I took the medical community around me by surprise. They were used the the devastation, they were used to the loss, they were used to emotions far different than the ones I was portraying. I didn’t give them a chance to be sorry for us. When I look back, I see nothing but my heart having been prepared by God.
With that said, I have recently read a wonderful letter posted on a wonderful blog, noahsdad.com. The father of a child with Down syndrome having not been diagnosed until birth had experienced the typical emotions, not regretting his son for one minute. Here is a taste of what his “Open Letter to Every OB/GYN On The Planet” says.
I’m the father of a two year old boy named Noah who was born with Down syndrome, and whom we love very much. I understand that in the course of your day to day work you often have the difficult responsibility of telling parents news they never thought they would receive; that there’s a likely chance the little boy or girl in their mothers womb is going to be born with Down syndrome.
Why I’m Writing You This Letter
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| She is a “Smart Cookie” just like her shirt says! |
