World Down Syndrome Awareness Day

By MEGHAN DURBAK

When the doctor handed Christie Taylor her newborn son, Joseph, he apologized.

Despite several ultrasounds, the doctors never picked up on her son having Down Syndrome, a condition that delays development.

His twin, Jackson, was in perfect condition.

But Christie and Shawn Taylor weren’t sorry.

When they held their twin boys, they felt love and joy — about the birth of both their sons.

Jackson and Joseph were welcome additions in their home, joining their 5-year-old brother, Jared.

“From the moment I got pregnant, I didn’t have expectations for my kids,” Christie said. “A lot of parents had to grieve over the loss of the child they thought they would have. Shawn and I really didn’t do that.”

Instead they jumped on the Internet in search of help.

“When you get a diagnosis, you flood yourself with every bit of information you can get, therapies — occupational therapy, speech therapy, developmental therapy,” she said.

Christie didn’t just want medical advice, she was hoping to find others in similar situations, to build a support system around her and her family.

“I find myself looking for these families,” she said.

She’s hoping that today, World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, will help bring about a public consciousness to these children and their families.

“These kids are a part of our society. They need to be accepted like everybody else, loved by others like everybody else, given every opportunity just like everybody else,” she said.

It can be difficult to juggle a 5-year-old and 9-month-old twins, especially when they all need attention.

“Joseph does require more attention. I hope they all get the amount of attention they need,” she said.

“I didn’t have to do that with my typical children. I played with them as much as you can and that’s enough,” she said.

Having a special-needs child has changed Christie’s outlook on parenting.

“It’s changed me,” Christie said. “I can look back from when Jared was little. I did not put as much stock in his milestones as I should have,” she said. “With a typical child, you know when they’re going to sit up, roll over, laugh. With developmental delays, you don’t know when those things are going to come.”

The first time Joseph rolled over, Christie cried. In fact, he beat Jackson to the milestone. Christie said she enjoys the interactions among her boys. Her oldest entertains the twins. Jackson is an adventurer while Joseph is laid back.

Christie never imagined she would be able to handle such a demanding schedule.

Because of Joseph’s needs, the Taylor household has to be structured. Up every day at 6:30 a.m., the stay-at-home mom feeds the twins, drops Jared off at preschool, changes diapers, takes the twins on errands, puts the twins down for a nap and repeats. Fortunately, they have a good sleeping schedule, Christie said. Otherwise it would be difficult for her to get anything done for her online classes through Indiana Wesleyan.

“I’m amazed at what I get done in one day,” she said.

Her husband works 12-hour shifts to support the family and then comes home and helps with feeding and diaper changing.

“We have not had any time for us since the twins were born,” she said.

They long for time to spend with one another, but, in the meantime, they focus on raising their children and helping Joseph develop as quickly as he can.

“He surprised a lot of us by how well he has come along,” she said. “The big goal for us is to have him mainstreamed,” she said.

The earlier intervention they get the better it is for them, she said. And while extra work is needed, Christie and Shawn consider their son a blessing.

“I don’t love him more because he has Down Syndrome. But I don’t love him any less,” she said.

She only hopes others will see what she sees in her child.

“Joseph is more like everyone else than he’s different. He spits up the same, has as many dirty diapers as any other kid, eats every day, plays every day... He’s more like everybody else than he’s different.

“All my boys are special, but I love Joseph’s designer genes!” she said.



Facts on Down Syndrome:

Down Syndrome is a result of a chromosomal abnormality where the individual has 47 chromosomes instead of 46.

One in every 733 babies born in the U.S. has Down Syndrome.

With early treatment, many of these individuals can graduate from high school, go to college, get jobs and live independently. One example is actor Chris Burke, best known as Corky from “Life Goes On.”

Source: National Down Syndrome Society



Make contact:

If you’re seeking more information on Down Syndrome or a support base contact, you may e-mail Christie at jaredsmomma@insightbb.com or call her at (765) 854-1152.

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