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Wanted: One Extra Chromosome

© Rachael Smith

Quite frankly, when my daughter was born I was just grateful not to be pregnant anymore. Two weeks later when I learned that she had Down Syndrome, all I wanted was for her to be healthy. Two months after that when I learned she had a severe heart defect, I just prayed she would survive the surgery.

Now, five years later, I'm thankful for the days she doesn't torment her sister, poke the dog, or eat things that aren't edible. It's safe to say that my perspective has changed a lot in five years.

Obviously, when I first learned she had Down Syndrome, I was heartbroken. She was my second child and I never suspected that at the age of 23 I would have anything other than a perfectly healthy baby. The shock and the fear of the unknown had me in pieces.

Over time, with the help of several books, I learned all I could about Down Syndrome. It didn't take long for me to see that having a baby with one extra chromosome wasn't a doomsday sentence, but rather a unique and wonderful challenge. All the little things that parents can take for granted like rolling over, walking, and talking, became highly anticipated events in our home. Each time she succeeded I was overjoyed, and with each medical crisis I treasured her smiles even more. You bet it's hard, but what parent can safely say that raising any child is easy? It's how you handle the child you're given that determines what kind of parent you are. Parenting a child with Down Syndrome has some extra obstacles, but it also has just as many laughs, smiles and achievements as any other child. Several times over the last five years when I have told people that she has Down Syndrome, I get that, same look of both pity and gratitude. It's almost as if I can read the sign over their head as they think, "Oh you poor thing, I could never handle that." or "I'm so glad my kid is healthy." I cringe every time I see that look, not because I'm ashamed of my daughter, but because I fear for their children. She's my daughter for goodness sake, what was I supposed to do, send her back to the store and ask for a better model? Then my daughter smiles and softly says "hi" and immediately they are won over and once again I'm reminded of why she's so "special".I love her and I accept her with whatever strings she came with.

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