Down Syndrome

On Saturday, January 2, 1999, the birth of Hayden Michael was met with great delight at Russell Medical Center. Two families gathered and shared in the miracle. Everyone stood at the window and watched the blue bundle of joy laid into the bassinet. All was well in the world.

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Sunday morning Dr. Katie Cooper told the new parents that she suspected Hayden had Down Syndrome but she would need to do a chromosone stest to be 100% certain. The first reaction for all was to cry. We cried for ourselves, for each other, and for the baby. Once the tears were spent a fascination with Down Syndrome took over and I began reading anything I could on the topic. I wanted to know all I could about my newest little grandchild. It became a realization that I was in this for love and forever.

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Numerous questions plagued me. What is Down Syndrome? I looked to the experts and found a wealth of information. Down Syndrome is a chromosonal anomaly that occurs in 1.3 per 1000 births. For some unexplained reason, an error in cell development results in 47 chromosones rather than the usual 46. This extra gene material changes the development of the brain and body.

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What causes it? Theories abound but the actual cause is unknown. It is well known that extra chromosone in Trisomy 21 most often comes from the mother.

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Will all the parents children be born this way? If there is already a child with Down Syndrome, the risk increases to one in 100 in Trisomy 21 and Mosaicism for having a second. If the child has translocation Down Syndrome and if one parent is a carrier, the risk is even greater.

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How many are there? The national population is about 250,000. 5,000 babies are born to mothers under the age of 35.

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What do children with Down Syndrome look like? Some of the features are slanting eyelids, depressed nasal bridge, smaller ears, mouth, hands, feet, and fifty percent have one line across the palm. Not every child has all the features, some may have a few, others may have most of them. One thing to remember is that they have the same likes and interests, emotions and attitudes, are artistic and creative, are imaginative and playful just like other children. They can grow up and live independent lives with varying degrees of support.

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What about care? All children thrive under parental care and attention. Down Syndrome children are no different.

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What about their future? More doors are open now than ever before. There are people with Down Syndrome all across the United States going on with the business of living their lives. They learn, they work, they have relationships, just like you and me.