My aunt once told me that Matthew would touch and inspire many lives in his lifetime. She said this a few days after he was born when we were trying to comprehend how Down syndrome would affect his life and ours.
A few weeks ago, the features writer of our local newspaper contacted me interested in writing about my blog and Matthew. I was nervous and excited at the same time about the idea of being featured in the paper: nervous about answering questions and not knowing how the article was going to turn out and excited about this being an opportunity to raise awareness about Down syndrome in our community.
The article Sharing Her 'Gift from God' With the World was in the August 27-29, 2010 weekend paper. I was expecting a short article but was happily surprised with a full front page article in the features section. It is such a well-written and inspiring piece of work, as many people we meet in town and online have commented.
I love her perspective of my blog. I never thought of it like the way she put it, which is 'sharing my gift from God with the world'. It is what I'm doing though, just as fellow bloggers who have kids with Down syndrome are doing. There have been many others before me and there will be many others yet to be born into this world and into blogland.
It is one of the ways to advocate for our children with Down syndrome - showing how kids with Down syndrome make us smile, worry, cry and laugh, just like any other child would and showing how kids with Down syndrome learn, grow and develop, just as uniquely as any other child would.
It's a way to connect with other parents who are on a similar lifelong journey as us. It could be the source of inspiration and strength for a mother-to-be with a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome or for new parents of a child with Down syndrome.
It is one of the ways that Matthew will touch and inspire many lives, just as my aunt had known all along.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
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9 comments:
Congratulations on the article. Sounds like a good reporter. They often want to help but don't quite get the details right. I am sure that Matthew will help many people in his lifetime. I also imagine that he will have a special relationship with God, one that we folks without specialness, cannot quite get because we put too many barriers in the way that children and adults with mental challenges do not. Enjoy Matthew!
I have stumbled upon your blog through various other bloggers and what a great find! You are doing such a fabulous job raising Matthew and being such an advocate for all children that have been blessed with any sort of challenge. I have enjoyed reading about you and your family. Thanks for sharing your life with us.
Awesome! Congrats! I recall people telling me that John Michael would be a blessing to us as is Matthew to you. How right they were/are and it's a great feeling when you get someone reading your blog who is inspired or given hope because of your positive outlook on Ds. I think that's why I enjoy your blog as well. I think we share the idea that our boys are truly gifts from God and they have helped us become better people.
What a wonderful article about your inspirational family. Our children truly are gifts from God, & if your blog can help just one person realize that, then you have done a great thing! Thanks so much for sharing.
Ria your are amazing! You and Matthew are an inspiration for me. Your blog is the very helpful for me. When I have doubts or look for way to work in some of my son's skills I always find the information I need in your blog. Hopefully, we can meet one day.
Awesome, congratulations! We thank you for sharing your wonderful gift from God with us. Your family is a blessing to follow.
Thanks everyone! Thanks for following along.
To my fellow bloggers, I enjoy following your blogs too. Thank you for sharing your kids with us too. What a blessing to be able to interact via the internet! I imagine it was much harder to get information, advice, encouragement, etc without technology like this.
Wow, great article! Congratulations! Blogs were my main source of information, too, after Samantha was born. I hope that in some way I'm able to give back with my blog and provide information and inspiration to other new parents just hearing the Ds diagnosis. I enjoy reading about Matthew!
Thanks for sharing this great article, and for sharing Matthew with us all too!
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