I follow many blogs written by parents of kids with Down syndrome. Time and time again, I see stories about how in the beginning they were afraid – probably because you just don’t know what it’s all about yet and all you know are all of the generalizations that are out there about people with Ds. Gracie is two weeks old (as of yesterday) and I already can tell you that Gracie is Gracie and I can’t put her into a category just because she was born with Trisomy 21. Everybody told us prior to the surgery – typical kids take this long for this and that – she got off the bypass machine no problem, she barely swelled up post surgery, they sewed up her chest less than 24 hours after surgery, she’s already off of the ventilator – she’s making great strides in learning to eat -- all things we were assured would most likely take some time (and everything had that “for a typical kid” asterisks by it). I’ve heard a very highly respected intensive care doctor say to a large group of doctors on their morning rounds (when he didn’t know I was listening) – “This is as smooth of a recovery from a single chamber heart surgery that I’ve seen”. Gracie had open heart surgery last Thursday afternoon, and pretty much every step of the way so far, she has been ahead of schedule. She’s a fighter, our amazing Gracie – I said a long time ago that our road will be a bumpy one, and I’m not pretending that it won’t be, but right now, I’ve got no doubt that this little girl is going to change some opinions.
Rich, I love your new family photo you have the at the top of your blog and the little feet of your two precious daughters. Still praying for Gracie! She is a superstar!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely can't put Gracie into any category...she is just Gracie and she is just AAMAZING!! She has defied all the odds!! Someday, another family will be sitting in that conference room with the cardiac surgeon, discussing their baby with Down's Syndrome and a very serious cardiac condition. After the surgeon and cardiologist finish explaining all the risks and all the odds, that family will ask them, "but do you know any children with Down's Syndrome who have survived with this heart condition?" And that surgeon and that cardiologist will tell them about Gracie, and it will give them the strength they need to place their baby in the hands of God and the surgeons.
ReplyDeleteYour little Gracie is already paving the way for the next child who comes after her to also beat the odds!!