From the JB Team: Celebrating Mother’s Day
Did you know that, in addition to Carissa, two members of our team are also raising children with Down syndrome?! Lauren, our Medical Education Coordinator, received a Jack’s Basket for her son, Hayden, in 2019, and Katie, our Director of Development, received a Jack’s Basket for her daughter, Tatum, in 2022.
In celebration of Mother’s Day, we’re highlighting their reflections on how raising a child with Down syndrome has shaped their motherhood journeys.
From Lauren:
“My experience in the Down syndrome community started when I was 13 years old and my sister, Angela, was born. When Angela was 3 months old, our family found out she had Down syndrome. I didn’t know exactly what it meant for our future, but I was still pretty excited to have a sister, even if she might have an extra chromosome. Since there was a large age difference between the two of us, I always felt as if she was preparing me to be a mom! I learned early on ALL of the things you needed when a baby was around. And as I got older, my favorite summers were the ones where I babysat her and I was able to plan out all of our fun activities.
Fast forward to July 19, 2019, within about one hour of our beautiful baby boy Hayden arriving, the OB resident said, “We are seeing markers of Down syndrome. Oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said that with all of these people here.” Honestly, I didn’t care. I didn’t care that the resident said it. I didn’t care that she said it in front of all those people. And at that moment, I didn’t care that he might have Down syndrome. Was I shocked? Yes. How was it possible that I have a sister with Down syndrome, and now I might have a son with Down syndrome? However, at that moment, I was relieved and ecstatic that he was finally here.
Looking back, wow, Angela really was preparing me to be a mom, especially to be Hayden’s mom. She taught me not to rush. Even though her journey may look different than others, the celebration at the end is so worth it. She taught me patience, which I now get to use with both of my children. She taught me love and acceptance. Her heart is so big, and her hugs are the best. She taught me that yes, some days are harder than others, and sometimes our worries are different from what I originally imagined. But every parent has hard days and worries, typical children or not.
Angela and Hayden have brought so many new opportunities into my life by introducing me to the Down syndrome community. When we received our Jack’s Basket, I honestly just wanted to tell everyone about it, and that’s exactly what I did. In 2020, I became a Regional Lead Parent in Pennsylvania, and last summer I joined the Jack’s Basket team as the Medical Education Coordinator. I feel so blessed that every day I get to celebrate babies with Down syndrome and help educate the world on just how amazing they are. For the past 25 years, individuals with Down syndrome have been making me better. I have both Angela and Hayden to thank for that, and I’m incredibly grateful.”
From Katie:
“Raising a child with Down syndrome has changed my motherhood journey in the sense that I have learned to slow down and to enjoy the little moments. Before, I might have just rushed them past. Tatum has taught me to have way more patience and appreciate the small celebrations along the way.
I wish someone had told me “Your life is going to be beautiful” when we received Tatum’s diagnosis. I wish that conversation had been filled with hope and stories of how people with Down syndrome make their families better. To any new moms on this journey: Your baby is loved and celebrated. Pour into your baby like you would any other baby, and your child is going to bring you so much joy and so much love.
I hope Tatum knows that she is worthy – worthy of all things in life. I want her to know that her diagnosis does not define her. She is Tatum first, and everything else comes after.”
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