A Special Kind of Life

by Aymie Lacey

There are millions of different people from home to home
A fraction of them live with Down's Syndrome
For every thousand babies blessed with life
One special baby will be of a certain type
Approximately sixty thousand people in the UK
Live with the condition day to day

Around six hundred babies are born with Down's each year
Many more globally, that's just here
The condition is named after John Langdon Down
Who made the distinction in London Town
An expert on issues related to mental health
It wasn't until years later it was named after himself

You may like to know the cause of Down's Syndrome
Scientifically it is the presence of an extra chromosome
It can come from either the father or mother
There is no way to predict one way or the other
There is a proven link to mothers who are older
Yet younger mothers are common, as fertility is stronger

From research done one thing is for sure
Nothing in pregnancy can change it, either during or before
Features may vary, as with many conditions
But with the right support there need not be restrictions
Approximately half have problems with their heart
Though with medication and monitoring have a reasonable start

There are some common characteristics
The following are correct according to statistics
Generally short it height with flatter round faces
With larger tongues and more weight in places
Some gut and gland problems may be found on inspection
And people with Down's can be more susceptible to infection

Studies show there is reduced fertility
Though it is possible to go through pregnancy
If Down's is had by both the mother and father
The chances of passing it on are even higher
There's a risk of miscarriage and premature birth
And it's important to consider all implications first

Of course this varies from case to case
The variety is evident all over the place
But generally you should put aside your fears
As the life expectancy is an impressive sixty years
And although the characteristics may be familiar
People with Down's resemble their families more than each other

The variety is astounding, some learn fast
Reading and writing and having a laugh
Sometimes it may take a few minutes longer
But like anyone else they grow stronger
Some go to college, find happiness and success
It varies greatly, like you, me and the rest

Like every other human they are individuals
They have different interests and many go to school
With hobbies like swimming, cooking or watching TV
They have a whole lot of fun like you and me
Routine features highly as a way to cope
Knowing what to expect brings a sense of hope

Sometimes being spontaneous can be amusing
But for people with Down's this can be confusing
Because of their disability change can be hard to understand
The best thing to do is offer a hand
The same way you would if anyone had a problem
Listen to the person and do your best to help them

So if it is a brother or sister or friend or stranger
Remember to be kind as you would to any other
It is not a case of 'two of a kind'
With a little understanding you can open your mind
Down's isn't a disease; it needs no cure
The person comes first, that'sfor sure

People are individuals and if you remember nothing else
Treat everybody equally, as you'd like to be yourself!