Margaret, You Make Me Better

To sum up our journey from the last 18 months is nearly impossible, as I am certain I could fill a book. It began with the shock of double pink lines on a home pregnancy test at the age of 42; our youngest child was seven years old at that time. We quickly grew fond of our pregnancy and began preparing for our fifth child.

We opted for the blood work to discover the gender of our unexpected bundle of joy, disregarding the fact that this lab work also tested for genetic anomalies. At 14 weeks pregnant, I received the email that our results were in. As I logged in to the patient portal, I was met by artificial intelligence that delivered the news. Our precious little girl had a “high risk” screening for Trisomy 21. I fell to my knees and wept and grieved the loss of the child I had been envisioning. As a pediatric ER nurse, my mind flooded with all the health problems that I knew she could potentially encounter. All the “what-ifs” intruded on my daily thoughts.

A dear friend introduced me to Jack’s Basket. This could not have been a bigger blessing during this time that was filled with unknowns. Their message about the beauty of children with Down syndrome was healing and instilled a new hope and excitement. 

On November 19th, 2024, we welcomed our beautiful Margaret Jo! This was a defining moment in my life. As she was placed on my chest, our eyes met, and she stared right into my soul to be forever intertwined.

Fast forward almost a year later…words cannot be found to express the immense joy Margaret has brought into our home. Everyone, including her older siblings, calls her “my baby”. When they need a little sunshine in their day, they come running looking for “my baby”.

God has given us an extraordinary and special gift in Margaret. Our journey together continues to transform me in all the most wonderful ways. Undoubtedly, she has been sent to this world on God’s errand.

Josephine, Margaret’s Mom (Minnesota)