At that time I was a single mom, in a relationship that couldn’t last and shouldn’t last, and I was pregnant with a baby that was to be less than perfect, a baby that I knew would have a damaged heart, and might have more problems as well. After the dream, I knew that Henry was my baby and his message to me was that he would be fine. In fact, he would be more than fine—he would be wonderful.
—The Dream by Rosemarie Aiello-Gertz

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

Communicating Partners (Dr. James D. McDonald)
Helping Parents Help Children: parents are in the best position to make sure their child develops social and communicative skills to their potential.

North Carolina: Triangle Down Syndrome Network
Located in central North Carolina, serving families in Wake, Durham and Orange and surrounding counties.

International Mosaic Down Syndrome Association

Club NDSS
A web site for people with Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities

Aussergewoehnlich
(in German) Portrait photography book of children with Down syndrome, by Conny Rapp

West Virginia: Down Syndrome Association of Fredricksburg

Colin & Katrina's Family Website
Includes the story of their son's "heart story," information everyone should learn, and links to the web resources this Edmonton family found valuable.

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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

The Best Things in Life Aren't Things!!!: Time... (Posted 3 days ago) Time marches on...the clock keeps ticking, even when you beg it to stop for just ... [Link]

Breakfast Date with Blogging Friends (Posted 17 days ago) Two years ago I started this blog as a result of being inspired by Down ... [Link]

Red Lights: A Record of Life's Defining Moments: Its been a long ... (Posted 5 weeks ago) I fear I have once again been neglecting my personal blog. After Mikey's ASD diagnosis, ... [Link]

Therklesen Bliss: One step at a time... (Posted 4 months ago) So much of our determination to get to where we are going all begins with ... [Link]

Red Lights: A Record of Life's Defining Moments: DS-ASD Diagnosis (Posted 5 months ago) This past week, Mikey was officially diagnosed with DS+ASD (Down Syndrome plus Autism Spectrum Disorder). ... [Link]