Love With An Extra Chromosome

What You Can Learn From My Son With Down Syndrome

I’m laying down next to this sweet boy as he’s going to sleep. He’s talking happily as he’s winding down from the day. I lay down with him in his bed at night until he knocks out; and then slip out as quietly as I can.

He’s saying the names of family members that will be at his Buddy Walk next weekend on Sunday. He’s excited that they will all have different super hero shirts on in his honor to celebrate his birthday.

I’m just thinking of him — as I always do, and I want to gush some and maybe let you know more about Down Syndrome.

I was marveling at his hands as I was putting him into bed tonight. They are perfectly formed. Smaller than most hands of boys his age, and his fingers are shorter. They also have a single crease across the palm, whereas those of us with fewer chromosomes have two big creases across our palms. That was one of the biggest indicators that he had Down Syndrome as a newborn.

It’s also one of the little differences that make him so unique. He also has smaller ears, and a bigger tongue. His eyes (though surgically modified due to an eyelid abnormality as an infant) have a tell tale almond shape that I find absolutely beautiful.

He also has looser muscle tone than “typical” children, and his loose ligaments make him SUPER flexible. He can literally use his feet as a pretend telephone as he holds them to his ear. I’m curious how it will go when we do yoga classes when he gets older!

Those are all physical traits of Down Syndrome.

Some of the personality and mental traits are usually slower brain function and (you’d at least THINK) taking longer to learn things. But I don’t know about that for Alec…as our little man has a crazy memory, has known and said his alphabet since he was two, and is now writing his own name on his way to reading. We’ve also drilled sight words with him, and he knows dozens of words just by looking at them, too.

I don’t know if it’s Daddy bias or just thinking the best in my own child — but I think he’s brilliant.

I have extremely high hopes for him, and I expect the best in him, but sometimes even I catch myself being surprised — like my expectations aren’t high enough, because he seems to always exceed them.

I actually have a tear rolling down my cheek as I write this, and I think it’s because I feel so happy that this boy was gifted to US.

He is just so…wonderful.

He’s my only son; and will be my only boy, but I just can’t imagine being any more proud of a son than I am of mine. I’m just so grateful that his big, beautiful soul is intertwined with mine for all eternity.

Some people may think that having a child with Down Syndrome may be a burden, or difficult.

I don’t know. I don’t feel like it is. I mean we’re just now finishing with diapers and he’s about to turn six. He has more hospital visits and health scares than most kids — with 7 surgical procedures his first 6 months. He had Hirschsprung’s disease when he was born, which means he couldn’t poop. He underwent a serious surgery for that, a condition that was fatal just a few decades ago. He still has bowel issues due to it.

But you know; I never have and I don’t know that I ever will consider that a burden. It’s just part of my amazing boy and life with him.

And I would not trade him for any boy in the whole wide world. Not in the entire history of boys. He’s mine and I’m so happy about that:

I haven’t even gotten to his super powers yet! And he has them; for real.

He is the most intuitive human being I’ve ever known. He can sense human emotion better than anyone.

He also knows good souls from those that aren’t so good. I think he knows when someone is Godly or not — not in a religious sense, but just people that have love and kindness in their heart.

He knows people that are fellow lights. And he is a magnet for those people, too.

It’s amazing to watch how people with good hearts are just drawn to him. I’ve literally watched him bring a big motorcycle gang-looking man to tears before. It’s really uncanny.

He also spreads love and joy nearly everywhere he goes. He leaves smiles on the faces of many he touches in day to day life.

He’s as loving and happy as anyone I’ve ever known. Now, don’t get me wrong — he has a stubborn streak, and can get in a foul mood too. If you hear anyone say that’s folks with DS are always happy, they’re full of crap! But he IS happy most of the time.

He’s also pretty unaffected by most of the negativity in the world. Just being around him helps bring the important things of life into focus.

I’ve had this theory that babies and children are the purest light from God, as they’re unsoiled by the cynicism and strife of the world.

Blessedly, I think that our sweet boy will maintain that divine innocence, happiness, and light his entire life,

And the GOOD people understand that on a soul level.

He’s been asleep for a while now as I’m writing this. His sweet little breaths are regular and deep. I wonder what he dreams.

I hope they are as sweet and wonderful as he is.

***I hope this has given you some insight to Down Syndrome and our Amazing Alec during DS Awareness Month. If you feel inclined, please share this so that others may learn about these angels among us, too. Thank you.***