I think I’ve just written my best thing ever. Yet? Nah, right first time, ever.
The marvellous Sunshine and Smiles group in Leeds, UK, are working with local health officials on a good thing.
They are coming together to get right what can be a traumatic time: the birth of a child who happens to have Down syndrome and how the early days pan out.
I’m contributing to a booklet that’s being put together by Sunshine and Smiles and have just bashed out what I’d like to say.
Y’know, I hope I’ve done the cause justice. In that vein, I think it cuts the Medium mustard.
It’s hard knowing what to say. You know it, we know it.
When Martha was born the initial talks weren’t easy. For us, the medics, family, friends… whoever.
Nearly six years on and it’d be so rewarding to go back and tell yourself the reality.
It’s tough. Your family’s life has changed. The obstacles are more high jumps than hurdles. Time will be in short supply.
But, your child will be loved and what you get back in return — oh my! — it is priceless.
This may be the best thing that happens to you.
That’s what I’d say.
In the early years, Martha had squatting rights at hospitals. Breathing problems. Neck issues. Missing bits of her spine. She’s been scanned more times than my Nectar card.
The family worried, hardly slept. Ran ragged by endless medical appointments, scans, procedures.
Martha? She kept on keeping on, joyfully. I underestimated her — no longer.
It should also be stressed there is a lot of brilliant stuff out there.
On medical matters, we are lucky to know the gang at the Ellerslie unit in Huddersfield and LGI bones boffin John Goodden, among others.
Of course, there are inadequates in the profession. Some offer a blunt, sometimes brutal manner as you wrestle with shellshock although, in Leeds anyway, that’s not been the personal case.
Most importantly, there’s the new friends you’ll meet.
West Yorkshire is thriving with the best people, groups and support in what is a tremendous global community.
Beyond the Sunshine and Smiles of Leeds, take a peek at the parents’ groups in Bradford, Huddersfield and Wakefield too. And I insist you take a look at the work, and high jinx, of Shabang Inclusive Learning.
That initial fear, especially of the future, remains.
But it’s a distant second to the joy Martha, and others, bring. Martha alone has coloured our days spectacularly.
Keep it realistic, yes. But there truly is joy ahoy.
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