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
2008 National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA): Gold 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
Recent Posts to Blogs
Grace Between the Lines » "Show Us Where You Live Friday"
The Seal Bark » Bringing sexy back to the lake
5 Minutes for Special Needs » Open Mouth, Insert Foot
Praying For Parker » It’s A Sibling Thang
Bridget's Light » A Blog Pause
Big Blueberry Eyes » Friday Freebie
Beneath the Wings » The Schedule
Deep Fried Pickles and Ice Cream » what momma been up to?
Mama Monkmee » 1st Photo Shoot In A Long Time
momof12and loving it » Today....
See all recent posts to blogs.
Sample Links from the Down syndrome Community
Pennsylvania: Eastern Pennsylvania Down Syndrome Center
Pennsylvania: Montgomery County of PA, Down Syndrome Interest Group
Indiana: Dad's Appreciating Down Syndrome
Michigan: Capital Area Down Syndrome Association
Buddy Walk
The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk in which anyone can participate without special training. Buddy Walk was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and to promote acceptance and inclus
Lives Touched by Down Syndrome
website and book featuring personal stories about individuals with Down syndrome.
Wisconsin: Down Syndrome Association of Wisconsin
———
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
Little Wonders: Another Goodbye: (Posted 5 days ago) This morning was a 10 mile morning.Each and every moment was spent thinking of Pablo ... [Link]
Therklesen Bliss: Tamiflu here we come... (Posted 5 days ago) Stuffy noses, yucky cough, cranky baby, feeding issues, sleeping issues and 1 phone call = ... [Link]
Little Wonders: The Unpeakable and Ultimately profoundly unfair ... (Posted 7 days ago) Tonight I headed out to do my run.Did not feel like tackling another 4 miles, ... [Link]
Therklesen Bliss: The phone call we've been waiting for... (Posted 9 days ago) Limbo: imaginary place for lost or neglected things. 11 days after Preslie's sedated ECHO and ... [Link]
Mauzy's Musings: Supremes issue their decision in Forest Grove ... (Posted 10 days ago) The Gifts Outreach program provides complimentary copies of Gifts to organizations which serve parents facing ... [Link]
