Imagine the grief a mom had to go through when she was told her baby had Down syndrome. Little Aydas extra chromosome scared the family, but now we see her mom embracing and celebrating it! From outdated stigmas to strangers’ insensitive comments, she covered a long journey learning that different does not mean less.
Something I never celebrated before but am totally proud to be part of now and all of the amazing supportive family/ friends and community that also celebrate.
When the drs said Ayda had Down syndrome I didn’t actually believe them, going through the five stages of grief because we are made to believe it is not good to be different or to take a bit longer to do things, or not fit in with the way humans have been programmed to do things or fit in with the schooling system. As a mum your job is to protect and make the world a safe and kind world for your child. I’ve had comments made about my little girl when they see she has ds- ‘I’m sorry’, didn’t you know when you were pregnant? ‘Would you have kept her if you knew’? ‘I know someone with Down syndrome, they are always happy’!
So I’ve posted this quote from Queen Liz because I’ve learnt that our differences are what make us beautiful and we are just all passing through.. we all deserve the same rights and privileges, kindness and support from our lives. In the 1950’s babies with ds were put into institutionalised homes and hidden from society. Mums were told to leave them at the hospital. So we celebrate world Down syndrome day as we have come so far and people with ds are living 50 years longer than back in the 1950s due to support kindness and access to healthcare, we still have a way to go.
She may not speak much yet but this girl has changed the lives of soo many people for the better. Always be kind and remember we are all human, Ayda is just a little more human with her extra chromosome- 🫶🏼