Admittedly, my Brendan is no saint. Being a toddler, Brendan finds it amusing to hide his shoes, empty every drawer within reach, dump the food from the cats’ bowls, and bathe in the dog’s water dish. But just like Saint Brendan, my Brendan is a navigator. Lucky for me! Since his arrival in my life was also a departure into unfamiliar lands, I need someone with his skills to help guide my way.
—Travels with Brendan by Tammy Westfahl

excerpt from one of the essays in

GIFTS: Mothers Reflect on How Children with Down Syndrome Enrich Their Lives

litte gold star calling attention to award 2008 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA): Gold Award

litte gold star calling attention to award 2008 Mom's Choice Awards Silver Recipient, Special and Exceptional Needs

Praise for Gifts

“This fine book helps dispel the fear and misinformation about Down syndrome that many parents and prospective parents face. As these deft essays convey, the world would be a sweeter place with more Down syndrome citizens, not fewer.” —George F. Will

“Gifts is honest and life affirming, a chorus of mothers proclaiming what every obstetrician and gynecologist should know - that life is a gift and an extra chromosome is not the end of the world.” —Beverly Beckham, columnist, The Boston Globe

“Through Gifts we hear the powerful voices of mothers who said ‘yes’ when others might have been saying ‘no.’ These mothers take us on their journey filled with wonder, courage, and the belief that children with Down syndrome can and will succeed.” —Brian G. Skotko, MD, MPP, Children’s Hospital Boston and Boston Medical Center Author, Common Threads: Celebrating Life with Down Syndrome

Sample Links from the Down syndrome Community

United Kingdom: Down Syndrome Association

A Bright but Welcome Spotlight: Attention to Palin Spills Over to Area Families Living With Down Syndrome
September 14, 2008. Washington Post

United Kingdom: Mosaic Down Syndrome UK

Czech Republic: Centrum Downova Syndromu
(in Czech)

Hannah's First Year

Down syndrome: The Real Deal

Team Possibles
Team Possibles - an integrated studio art program for young adults with disabilities

———

Browse our collection of Down Syndrome Links.

Having a baby
with Down syndrome is not something most parents would willingly choose. Yet many who travel this path discover rich, unexpected rewards along the way. In this candid and poignant collection of personal stories, sixty-three mothers describe the gifts of respect, strength, delight, perspective, and love, which their child with Down syndrome has brought into their lives.

The contributors to this collection have diverse personalities and perspectives, and draw from a wide spectrum of ethnicity, world views, and religious beliefs. Some are parenting within a traditional family structure; some are not. Some never considered terminating their pregnancy; some struggled with the decision. Some were calm at the time of diagnosis; some were traumatized. Some write about their pregnancy and the months after giving birth; some reflect on years of experience with their child.

Their diverse experiences point to a common truth: The life of a child with Down syndrome is something to celebrate. These women have something to say -- not just to other mothers but to all of us.

Learning love from Baby Grace

How GIFTS touched one family's life. Beverly Beckham at the National Down Syndrome Congress for the Boston Globe

. . . ."We had a week to decide," she said. Her test had come back positive, the doctors were somber, the literature bleak. And every bit of life experience she and her husband had was limited to feeling sorry for and frightened by every disabled person they had seen but didn't know.

"Gifts" took them beyond the stereotypes and showed them that "disabled" is a loaded and omissive word with all the bad left in and all the good left out. [Read the full article at the Boston Globe]

People are talking about Gifts!
Incoming Links

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