Cameron 

 

It has been two years, three months and three days since Cameron’s pediatrician entered my hospital room and shattered my dreams. Dreams that you have during pregnancy about what your child will look like, what they will do when they grow up, how their presence in your family will make your life more complete. Mrs. Strickland, we think your son has Down syndrome. That is what I heard and the rest seemed to be a sequence of mumbled words, words I can not clearly recall. My dreams taken away in an instant and replaced with thoughts of despair, of my child being an outcast at school, living with me for the rest of his life, of maybe never having job, never getting married and most painful, never having children of his own.

 

I was given no solid information about DS so I was left to make assumptions. Assumptions like the rest of the world makes. I was desperate to get home to my computer and the internet where I found more despair. Grim pictures of what “professionals” portrayed to be the outlook on Cameron’s life.

 

It has been two years, three months, and three days since my life was changed. My life was indeed changed, but unbeknownst to me at the time, changed for the better. Cameron has brought with him struggles. But he has also brought so much more to our family. With his diagnosis came an understanding, a love, and a determination I have never known before. With each milestone achieved there is great appreciation. No new accomplishment is overlooked and no moment with him is taken for granted. I am a better person because of Cameron and I wouldn’t change one thing about him, not even that extra chromosome.

 

I am thankful everyday that I have been given this extraordinary gift!

 

 

 

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