Down syndrome awareness month!

October is many things, Halloween, Breast Cancer awareness month, my father-in-laws Birthday, my sister-in-laws Birthday, the month before I got married, oh and Down syndrome awareness month.  I did not know that until my eyes were opened to Down syndrome when my friend had a child with Down syndrome.  Really?  It took me that long to know that?  Yes, sadly it did.  I say that because my cousin also has a child with Down syndrome, but I never bothered to get educated.  I guess it is like many things in life, we will do it tomorrow, it does not impact me directly today. 

Well, now that it does directly impact me, I am trying to create as much awareness as possible.  It is important.  There are so many false stereotypes and such a negative image in so many respects.  It is probably getting better, but there is still a long way to go.

One of our family projects is to create awareness.  One way we are doing that is walking in the Down syndrome awareness walk.  It is October 6 in Neenah, WI.  We are so excited.  We have been trying to raise money, add people to our team, and create awareness anyway possible!  If you would like to join us you can by following this link and joining the team or making a donation.  Preregistration is accepted until October 3.  You can register the day of, but you are not guaranteed a t-shirt.  www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/lydiaspoor/dsawfc

Another project we have been working on is bracelets.  Me and the girls have been making blue and yellow (the colors for Down syndrome) and braiding them together.  We have a note included.  We are handing these out to the girls classes and anywhere else we can think.  The note says the following:

October is Down syndrome awareness month!

 

As a family project, we are trying to educate as many people as we can about Down syndrome.  We thought we would start with our family and friends!

 

We have created these bracelets.  There are three strands used to create the braid.  It also represents the three 21^st Chromosomes that make up our sister Lydia.  Most people only have two!  You see, without three strands, the braid would not be as beautiful.  We feel that Lydia would not be the same without her extra 21^st chromosome.

 

Some facts about Down syndrome:

·         94% of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome prenatally are terminated.

·         80% of babies with Down syndrome are born to mothers under the age of 35

·         The average age of a mom who has a baby with Down syndrome is 28

·         Most people with Down syndrome have mild to moderate delays.  These delays are not related to physical characteristics

·         Families who have babies with Down syndrome typically experience fewer divorces and siblings are much happier.

 

For more information, you can follow our blog at http://lovinglydibug.blogspot.com

If you would like a bracelet, just let me know and we can get one sent out to you.  We are not charging and they are nothing fancy, but it is our way as a family of creating awareness.

And one last thing before I sign off.  Miracles still do happen.  They don't have to be big, often times they are small, however, they are just what we need when we need them.  Last night we had to put the oxygen back on Lydia.  The cold along with a fever seemed a little too much for her to handle.  This morning the fever seems to be gone and she is holding her oxygenation levels so far.  We have taken off the oxygen.  She likes that a lot better.