Well, as most of you all know...I had to give two presentations a few weeks ago at two different colleges...It was truly an amazing experience to open up to strangers and tell our journey we have been on with our son since I was 19 weeks pregnant...TRULY inspiring for me...I spoke to a room full of women that were in a Early Childhood Development class for Special Needs children. I knew I had touched many as I left, just from seeing some of the tears flowing down their faces...and the heartfelt "Thanks" for speaking to us and sharing your story...
Well, today I spoke to my sons teacher who is the professor of these students...She told me that I had been written about by ONE of the students that I spoke to...She simply stated in her evaluation of the class that "She will NEVER look at another Down syndrome child the way she did in the past." THe guest speaker that came in to share her life experience with her child that has Down syndrome had impacted her greatly. You see, this lady had always had a FEAR of children with Down syndrome...FEAR of just the unknown...she never knew HOW to approach a child with Down syndrome...she said she wanted to say how cute they were, and touch their little fingers, but was scared away...simply because of Down syndrome....(now here she is taking college courses to work with these children and Brayden was the one to overcome her fears!) I took Brayden to the Tuesday night presentation...granted he slept most of the time...but I didn't know that he would make such an impact with just his presence there...she stated that she saw him sitting there smiling like any lovable baby would...she stated that she saw the emotion that I implicated with our story and saw us as an incredible family...She overcame the FEAR right then and there...and was overjoyed with emotion herself as she had streams of tears coming down her face as she heard our story. Our little angel Baby made a difference...
I was so happy to know I touched someone forever...to know that one person will treat anyone with Down syndrome like another other person...I have a confession if you will to make...I, myself was somewhat like this gal...I too have always admired families with children with Down syndrome...yet I NEVER knew what to say either...I always thought these kids were so cute, but had a little bit of fear as to how to approach them, talk to them, etc...so I tended not to...I feel so bad for all the encounters I could of had, had I known what I know now....so I do not judge anyone for having the fear of not knowing how to communicate with families with Down syndrome...but to be able to be an advocate NOW and know that these children are truly little blessings from GOD is so overwhelming! IN A GOOD WAY! I know God knew this path of life for us as a family is what we have always needed. Brayden has touched us in more ways than I could of ever imagined! Down syndrome is just a small part of our lives now, the rewards of Down syndrome is so much more!
1 year ago
9 comments:
What a great story! Thanks for sharing your journey with others - it makes such a difference. I'm sure there were many others who were touched by your story and will view people with down syndrome in a different light. I am learning too just how amazing people with down syndrome are - and I would have never thought that before I had Joel.
Oh wow! Thanks so much for sharing this story, Darlena!! Brayden definitely touched the lives of those classes with some big help from his mom. God bless you for summoning up the courage to speak to this class on behalf of all our beautiful children with Ds and kids with other special needs!!!
ugggghhhh...he changed the lives of the PEOPLE in those classes.
That was beautiful!
What a blessing! Thanks for sharing.
What an awesome story, makes you feel all tingly inside! Sounds like you did such a good job in your presentations and I'm sure you impacted even more than just that one person. And good job Brayden, for smiling big and showing off how cute you are! :)
That's how I look at blogging. We may never know it, but the words and pictures we share about our lives may easily affect people in ways we will never know. You were lucky, you were told you affected someone. Imagine the number of people you affect and never even know!
I'm glad I found your blog. We too have come to realize that this change in our life has presented new-found opportunities. Good post and glad you shared your experience.
Beautiful, beautiful story. I think a lot of people feel the same way....they have a curiousity for DS but don't know how to approach it. It's with blogs like yours and all of ours that we can help change the way people "see" DS. Thank you for sharing. How old is little Brayden now? Gosh he's cute!
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