The Story of Jack's Basket
A New Journey
In March 2013, I sat in a hospital bed, just having given birth to my second son, Jack, by emergency c-section. Little did I know that the unexpected delivery would pale in comparison to the news that would come shortly after, changing our lives forever. While my husband waited alone during my recovery, a nurse abruptly asked, “are you aware of Trisomy 21? Your baby is showing signs of Down syndrome.” She continued with, “Well, just enjoy your baby,” and then left the room.
Not knowing how this would impact our future, my husband was left with our newborn and the responsibility to share the news with me. Holding emotions of confusion, shock, and fear, our journey began.
Navigating those first months, grief and tears came because I was holding onto the raw feelings that having a child with Down syndrome was not part of my plan. Slowly surrendering my plans, my eyes opened to a whole new perspective allowing me to truly accept Jack for who he is, embracing every part of him and this journey. This produced a love and life I wish everyone could know.
Slowly surrendering my plans, my eyes opened to a whole new perspective allowing me to truly accept Jack for who he is, embracing every part of him and this journey. This produced a love and life I wish everyone could know.
Igniting a Fire
Around Jack’s 1st birthday, I met a first-time mom who found herself on the same unexpected journey with her baby. She reflected on the traumatic delivery of her daughter’s diagnosis (seconds after the baby was born, a nurse shouted “This baby has Down syndrome, get her to the NICU immediately!”) and the treatment her family received during their 3-week hospital stay. My heart grieved with hers as she recalled those moments.
I couldn’t stop thinking about her experience. I believed the diagnosis delivery and her hospital stay directly impacted her ability to accept her new life with her daughter. Yet, her story was like so many I had heard in that first year of Jack’s life and it was igniting a fire in my heart to change these stories for the families who would receive a Down syndrome diagnosis in the future. Every child deserves to be celebrated, every family should hear a “congratulations” instead of a “I’m sorry”, or “I have bad news”.
Every child deserves to be celebrated, every family should hear a “congratulations” instead of a “I’m sorry”, or “I have bad news”.
The First Baskets
So, on Jack’s 1st birthday, we went back to the same hospital where Jack was born with two baskets to give to families welcoming a baby with Down syndrome. These baskets contained newborn gifts welcoming a baby worthy of celebration. They were also filled with local and national resources, a letter from our family to theirs, expressing what Jack’s life had taught us in that first year. A community ready with open arms to share that life is filled with unexpected joy and their child would change them for the better.
I never could have imagined that delivering those first baskets would impact the world the way it has. Since 2014, Jack’s Basket has celebrated over 7,500 babies in all 50 states and over 40 countries by providing families with gifts, support, and up-to-date resources, and training providers to deliver diagnoses in an unbiased way.
I am thankful for Jack who changed my heart in the very best ways. Because of Jack, I am more patient and accepting. Because of him, I choose to go outside of what’s comfortable and easy, to advocate and speak life into our world. Jack has encouraged me to look at each person, created with a purpose, with an ability to make the world a better place. My heart wishes that the world would do the same for him.
I would not change him for the world, but I will change the world because of him.
– Carissa Carroll, Founder & Executive Director
Join the Celebration!
Celebrate a baby! Do you know a baby recently diagnosed with Down syndrome? We celebrate babies from the time of diagnosis up to 1 year. Request a basket for them! A Jack’s Basket is filled with the gift of hope, love, and connection.
Connect us with healthcare providers! Help us expand our medical outreach program by connecting us with providers that would benefit from our presentations and resources.
Fill a Basket! Give today to help fill a basket in celebration of a new baby with Down syndrome! Your support ensures that our baskets are always available at no cost to families and that our team can engage in outreach to providers across the country.
Save the date for our 8th Annual ‘You Make Me Better’ Gala
Friday, October 11th | The Depot – Minneapolis, MN
We come together to celebrate the lives of those who make us better – our friends, children, family members, students, co-workers, and community members with Down syndrome. Join us for an inspirational evening as we honor their stories and the powerful ways they enrich our lives.
About Jack’s Basket
Jack’s Basket exists to eliminate bias and celebrate babies with Down syndrome by equipping providers with tools to deliver the diagnosis accurately without bias, connecting new parents to resources through our basket delivery program, and sharing powerful stories to change the narrative around Down syndrome.