Today is a special day.
It’s March 21st.
Trisomy Twenty-One is something we have come to understand, since Gellibean has joined our family. We have become more aware of words that can be hurtful, more aware of other children with special needs, more aware of just how precious this life we are given…really is.
Down Syndrome occurs at conception. Typical people have 46 chromosomes. We receive 23 from our mom and 23 from our dad, making 23 pairs. People with D.S. have an extra chromosome attached to the 21st pair, so instead of a pair, they have 3 copies of the 21st chromosome, hence the name Trisomy Twenty-One. While there are many physical signs and characteristics that can be attributed to the presence of that extra chromosome, one thing rings true for me, as I have come into contact with parents who were gifted with babies just like Gelli…OUR LIVES WERE FOREVER CHANGED IN A POSITIVE WAY.
We didn’t know how much Gellibean would enrich our lives when we brought her home from the hospital. But luckily, we figured it out pretty quickly, and for that-I’m grateful.
About a month back, one of my readers contacted me via Facebook and asked if she could put me in touch with this husband and wife team who were doing a special photo exhibit for WDSD. Nancy’s daughter, Naomi was invited to be part of a photo exhibit that is included in a WDSD event, which was spearheaded by Dr. Dimalanta. (Naomi’s developmental pediatrician) They were looking for other children to photograph and include, and since Nancy had just read a post that I wrote about my friend’s daughter Camille, she thought that I might like to include Gellibean in this photo exhibit as well.
The husband-wife team Nancy made reference to were in charge of the photo exhibit and had recently moved to Manila from the states. Because the Down Syndrome community is very small, I had heard of a physical therapist who came home to Manila, and was doing wonderful things for some of Gelli’s batchmates in DSAPI. My friend Shereen and I have always exchanged progress notes when talking about our kids and the therapies we have them completing weekly, so I knew of this therapist, named Hosanna. Hosanna is the wife of the husband-wife team that I referred to earlier. Tony is her husband, and he is the man behind the camera for the photo exhibit which can be seen today at St. Luke’s.
Gellibean has opened up our world in more ways than one. Photo taken during the Best Buddies Manila Open House by Kimi Lim from Imagine Nation Photography
When I took Gelli for her photo shoot with Tony, I recognized right away that he was from the States because of his accent. And after we got to talking…I ONLY THEN figured out that he was the husband of “Hosanna the therapist”, that I had already heard so much about from Shereen! Tony shared that Hosanna recently opened up a therapy center and that they brought in much of the equipment from abroad to aide their clients in their development and reaching their milestones. Med Mom Clinic is now on the list of places I want to visit so I can share it with any readers who might live nearby and are looking for a center for their child. (Look for that later on the blog :-))
Liam and Gelli have brought George, Shereen, Nino and I together. They have forged a bond of friendship between our families that has provided comfort and laughter. I’m sure we will continue to grow and deepen our friendships as the children grow up as well. (Missing from this pic is Marty and his parents Noel and Elaine!) Photo taken during the Happy Walk 2014.
If you are in the area today-stop by St. Luke’s BGC. Gelli and I will be there for World Down Syndrome Day 2014…come and say hello!
