When our daughter Susan was pregnant in 1997, it was a long nine months. After some ultra sound testing, it was suspected that something was wrong with the baby. We worried and prayed , and prayed and worried some more. Steven was born on October 11, 1997, and Sue and Mike were told there was a possibility that this child had Down Syndrome. We had to wait for several days for the diagnosis to be confirmed, but confirmed it was. I can still see Susan that day, carrying this beautiful baby wrapped in a white blanket into the house, with Mike beside her, as they came home from the doctor’s after receiving the news. With broken hearts we all cried, as Mike advised that we had 30 minutes to cry, and then let’s all get on with it, and go forward. Sue’s main concern was with Steven’s happiness, would he have a happy life? My concern was with my beautiful daughter, why couldn’t it have been me to have a child with Down Syndrome to raise, and not Susan. Would Susan and Mike have happy lives?

We have all come a long way since that day. This child of wonder and delight has brought all of us much happiness and moments of pure joy. Each step in his development has been marveled at and appreciated. When he could hold his little head up unaided, when he finally sat up alone, when he rolled over, crawled, and is now standing and walking around the coffee table -–each development has been a major event. All of the things that are routine with other children are small miracles for us. We have come to appreciate and marvel and thank God for each and every step in our little Steven’s progress. To see his beautiful face light up with joy as he communicates with us using sign language is surely a moment with an angel, the joy is so pure.

The gift of Steven to our family is something unasked for, and at first unappreciated. Now that he has been with us for two years, how could we ever do without him? He brings out the best in all of us. Among other things, he is teaching us patience and an infinite appreciation for the development of a child. News of each milestone is spread around the family and received with delight and gratitude for his progress. God has blessed us with a special child, and that child is teaching us life lessons that we never would have known without this gift of our Steven.

Steven’s Mom Mom