Jonah was born on February 3, 1997. He was diagnosed at birth with Down
Syndrome. We are a young couple, with two other healthy children, so we were
completely shocked at this diagnosis. Jonah was also born with a congenital heart
defect commonly associated with Down Syndrome, called complete
atrio-ventricular canal and patent ductus arteriosis. That sounds complicated, but
basically it means he had a two chambered heart, rather than the normal four
chambers. He had open heart surgery at three months of age to repair the defect,
with few problems since.
Jonah has low muscle tone and his joints are hyperflexible. He receives physical
therapy twice a week, to strengthen his muscles and teach him how to use his
muscles. He is now fifteen months old, and does pretty much what other babies do.
He eats, plays, rolls over, sits up, crawls on his belly, combat style. He is beginning
to pull to a stand at the couch. We're hoping he will walk soon.
Jonah also receives speech therapy to help tone the muscles in his face and jaw.
He also has a sensorineural (permanent) hearing loss in both ears. He is currently
being fitted for hearing aids. We are hoping that with the hearing aids, and more
intensive speech therapy, his first words will not be long in coming.
There is a lot of committment involved in his progress, but that's the same as with
any other child. We just have more people helping him reach his potential.
Having a child with Down Syndrome has not been easy. But, if I recall
correctly, neither were my other two children!! Jonah has taught us more
about life and living in his fifteen months than I believe we would have ever
learned without him. He is our child, just like our other two, and we continue
to love and support him in whatever way is necessary. It is our hope that
everyone who meets him will see him for the person that he is....a
beautiful, loving, happy baby.
