The Best Advice I Got When Janette Was Born 

1. Do not, under any circumstances, let anyone tell you that, “Janette won’t be able to do such and such.” Or that, “Janette will never do so and so.” Don’t set arbitrary limits on her abilities. No one can predict these things except God, and they are not God. With newer medical research in how to keep kids with DS healthy, and new techniques for Early Intervention, and new strategies for teaching all different learning styles, who knows what anyone is actually capable of until it happens! (This was told to me by a physician colleague who is a former administrator at Ellisville State School!) The corollary to this is, “Children live up (or down) to the expectations of those around them.”

2. YOU are the expert on YOUR CHILD. You’ll being seeing lots of medical specialists, and therapists, and teachers, and such throughout her life, but none of them gave birth to her, none of them love her, none of them live with her, none of them know all the minute details of her everyday existence like you do. YOU know what makes her tick, what motivates her, how to tell when she doesn’t feel well, and how hard she’s willing to work to accomplish a task. (Told to me by another mom who’d already “been there/done that.”)

3. Breast-feed. Do whatever it takes to breast-feed her as much as you can, for as long as you can. It’ll make a world of difference to both of you. 

Becky Saenz, mom to Janette, 8yo, with DS - (had AV Canal repaired at 8mos) 
(601) 898-7979 
Email: drbecky@msbfmedclinic.com