Welcome to our group–and congratulations on your new son or daughter!

Receiving a diagnosis of Down syndrome can be overwhelming and sometimes scary. You have many questions, and you might be feeling nervous about everything you think you should be doing or learning about to help your baby. Maybe you knew in advance that your child has DS or perhaps you have just learned the news after delivering your baby. Take a deep breath, try to relax. Know that in many ways, your baby will be like any other baby who needs to be fed, held and loved. There will be challenges along the way, but there will be great joys that you can’t even imagine!

We invite you to look over the resources on our website, contact us by phone or e-mail, or come to a meeting. Many new parents find it helpful and reassuring to talk to a mother or father who can understand some of what they are experiencing. If you would like to talk with another parent, we would be happy to put you in touch with someone in our group. Parents in our area are also a wealth of information when it comes to accessing local resources. We are all in the same boat, so to speak, but some of us are just a bit further along on the journey and have picked up some great information along the way.

My son Vincent is now six years old, and he is doing amazing things! However, when my doctor first delivered the news about Vincent having DS, my husband and I were shocked and in a state of great sadness. The child we were anticipating was not going to arrive, but he had been replaced by someone completely unexpected. The word “amazing” was not in the vocabulary of the information we started to read about DS.

However, an amazing little boy is what our Vincent has become. He participates in a music class with typical children, he is reading, and he is learning to swim. He brings great joy to our family, and he has a wonderful relationship with his older brother. Our family has learned that while there are many challenges to raising a child with DS, there is also a lot of support in the community to help our children reach their greatest potential.

We are dedicated to learning more about DS, supporting each other, and educating the community about children and adults with DS. We look forward to meeting you and your family.

Cristen Reat
New Parent Coordinator
Mother of Vincent (6) and Martin (9)