Jenaya, You Make Me Better

In the beginning, I was so nervous and scared about what our future looked like after getting a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Throughout my pregnancy, I battled daily with a roller coaster of emotions. I prayed and prayed.

On the night she was born, I only felt pure fear for her health and safety. After delivery, they placed her on my chest for a few minutes and I cried tears of happiness, love, and relief. My baby girl was finally here for me to hold, kiss, and admire. About an hour after delivery I was wheeled down to NICU and couldn’t believe how strong yet tiny my little warrior was. I knew then that I was the luckiest Mama, and that she chose me for a reason.

Jenaya instantly started showing us all what she was made of and that she is the true meaning of UNSTOPPABLE! She immediately fought to breathe on her own, to regulate her body temperature, to feed with tubes, but most importantly to spread pure love and happiness. She was and is a force to be reckoned with! She showed all the doctors and nurses that she was going home with us and wanted no part of the noisy NICU. We went home together 2 days later and have been inseparable since.

She has brought so much love, joy, spunk, and peace to our home. Everyone that meets her can’t get over her personality and beautiful energy. She has made our whole family so much happier and anyone who comes around her gets blessed with her love. She has the most infectious laugh and smile. Everyone that meets her and is in her presence immediately feels the warmth and love that radiates from her soul. She has changed our lives for the better and taught us all that life is meant to be enjoyed.

We have learned to be kinder to one another, to focus on the beauty of things especially on hard days, to be graceful to ourselves because we can fall short but eventually will succeed, to be mindful of others’ feelings, and most importantly to keep fighting even when you feel defeated. Before she arrived every day was a hustle and rush, but we now know what is important is meant to be admired and enjoyed.

We have met so many beautiful people and continue to come in contact with people who need her love. I have learned about strength, courage, fearlessness, resilience, being gentle yet fierce, kind yet standing firm on beliefs, and patience. I have become a better human because of my little Warrior Princess and how accepting she is. We are beyond blessed to have been chosen to be a part of her extra-lucky family. She makes us all so much better in so many ways, and for her, we are so grateful.

-Jenna, Jenaya’s Mom (Massachusetts)