After two months of trying to understand the many things doctors have told us about how we procreated a son with Down Syndrome (DS), we finally met with a Geneticist. During our meeting, I felt like I was in my summer school biology class all over again. 12 weeks of biology courses was squeezed into just 6 weeks. I took a crash course in which I ate, slept and breathed biology. Jorge and I learned and now have a better understanding of the different types of Down Syndromes. Trisonomy 21, Translocation and Mosaicism. When Aiden was born we were told by the hospital that DS was not genetic but then when released from the hospital and seen by an outside Pediatrician, we were told it is genetic. Based on the discharge papers the only information we had was that our son was suspected to have Trisonomy 21, which to this day we have yet to receive confirmation in black and white from the blood test that was done at the time of his birth. The Geneticist himself was puzzled why he has not received the report and is currently working on obtaining it from the hospital. I will only explain Trisomy 21 as it was the only one we discussed in depth. If you're interested in the other types you may look at the website provided below.
Although I am no scientist or a doctor, I feel the need to explain the reason our son was born with DS. Some people have this misconception that the reason might be because of what his father or I might have done to our bodies which may have caused my egg or his sperm to be abnormal. Aiden was not born with DS because I used to be pill popper (not the addictive type) I say pill popper because I was known for always taking pills to relieve my headaches. My ex boyfriend used to joke around and remind me to make sure I brought my candy with me. Prior to my pregnancy, I used to (knocks on wood) suffer from migraines and sinus headaches. In school or in class if anyone needed aspirin or sinus meds, they knew to look for me. Besides coffee, taking my meds was the only way I survived 7 years of college. Our son was also not born with DS because his father used to smoke Marijuana.
Normally in reproduction, the egg cell of the mother and the sperm cell of the father start out with 46 chromosomes. The egg and sperm cells undergo cell division where the 46 chromosomes are divided in half and the egg and the sperm cells end up with 23 chromosomes each. When a sperm with 23 chromosomes fertilizes an egg with 23 chromosomes, the baby ends up with a complete set of 46 chromosomes, half from the father and half from the mother.
In Aiden's case, his cells did not divide properly. When the chromosomes were being divided, there was an error where either the egg or sperm cell kept both copies of the #21 chromosome instead of just one copy. When the egg or sperm was fertilized, Aiden ended up with three copies of the #21 chromosome hence the name "Trisomy 21" or Down Syndrome. Trisomy 21 seems to be the only type of DS that is NOT inherited. Its all because of how the egg and sperm were divided at the time of conception. Translocation is the type of DS that is genetic. Translocation is when the mother or father carries the trait. Therefore if we ever decide to conceive more children, we have only a 1 % chance of having another child with DS.
I hope this is helpful in understanding the reason for DS. If anyone finds information that seems inaccurate please feel free to correct me. I am new at this and learning everyday. In case anyone is wondering, Aiden was examined by the Geneticist and declared to be in great health. He will however need to see the doctor every 6 months to keep an eye out for any health issues that may occur in the future.
Have a great weekend all!! <3 <3 <3
http://www.chkd.org/HealthLibrary/content.aspx?pageid=P02121
http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=77
Friday, October 21, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
American Baby Cover Contest
I received an email and awesome news from Parents magazine stating that the photos I submitted last week is currently in the running to become one of our weekly Reader's Choice finalists! If we receive the most votes Aiden will be on the cover of Parents magazine and win 250 dollars. (Thanks to my sister Gina for the awesome photos!) If you would like to vote, you can do so by entering the link below: http://photos.parents.com/american-baby-cover-contest-1/42/2011/68
http://photos.parents.com/american-baby-cover-contest-1/42/2011/67. You could also share it on facebook for your friends to vote too!!
Aiden says Thank you!! :)
http://photos.parents.com/american-baby-cover-contest-1/42/2011/67. You could also share it on facebook for your friends to vote too!!
Aiden says Thank you!! :)
Monday, October 3, 2011
The Country Side of Us and Ignorant People
Hello!! Long time no write. :) Life has been kind hectic for me since I last wrote. Not the stressful kinda hectic but the enjoying life kinda hectic. My best friend Darian came to visit two weekends ago and met Aiden for the first time. They became buddies fast!
We spent the weekend going to dinner, shopping at the outlets, meeting friends at the Deaf Expo and mommy went with her theater buddy Carlos to see Mary Poppins on Broadway. It was AWESOME!! If you're in NY and haven't already seen it. Check it out! I loved it! Then Aiden went on his first road trip! Darian was sweet enough to let us join her on the way back home and dropped us off in Virginia. Of all days Aiden had his first accident and pooped a mean one while on the road. Dark green poo poo oozing out of his onesies! Gosh! Cleaning him in a public bathroom on a changing table was a challenge! My strong boy is so curious he kept rolling to his side just looking at everything while mommy was trying to clean his behind, smearing poo poo all over the place! I've learned the next time we're on the road to put pajamas on Aiden not a cute outfit.
Titi Gina picked us up and we spent the rest of the week in Fredericksburg, VA. To some Fredericksburg is in the boonies, to some its not. To me its just right! A little bit of country with a small farm nearby but short hour drive to the city! (Washington, DC) I have always loved visiting with my sis and her family. Its always a nice and relaxing get away for me, where I can get up early in the morning and have a nice cup of coffee sitting on the deck surrounded by tall trees and a small creek right behind the house. Well I just discovered that like mommy, baby loves the outdoors too. There were two occasions when Aiden was fussing and it seemed that nothing would calm him down, so I thought to myself lets try going out on the deck. I wrapped him up in his blanket and as soon as we went out while rocking him, he became quiet and fell right to sleep. Not only does mommy and baby love the backyard, my Boston Terrier Petey loves it too. He loved running around fetching his frisbee and a broken soccer ball. He didn't even care if it was raining. :)
(Pause)
I'm back again. Wow. When I first started writing this blog this morning, I was in good spirit and ready to share nothing but good things. But then I had to stop to tend to Aiden, put him down for a nap and was able to chat with a friend while he slept. During the conversation, I learned that someone had shared with this friend that the reason that I was given (I say BLESSED because I now have a different and better perspective of life) a child who has Down Syndrome is because I once never wanted children. Meaning, this was a form of punishment. After the conversation, I couldn't help but feel sad that someone would say something like this. But the more I thought about it, I started to get angry inside and wanted to find out who this person was. How could someone say such a thing? Was this person a friend of mine? It was beginning to eat me up inside that I was actually starting to wonder if there was any truth to this persons insensitive comment. A little while later, I was reading facebook statuses and came across a status of a friend who posted a picture of a friend she had just lost. Her friend was pregnant. Although its not clear what happened and I did not want to ask, it was obvious this person lost her life when she delivered her daughter. I dont know who she was but she was glowing with a beautiful belly. It broke my heart to think about the heartbreak that her family and friends are going through especially that her daughter will be raised not ever having the chance to know her mommy. Then I started to think again about the insensitive comment that ruined my day and asked myself, would this insensitive person say such a thing about a woman who had just died after giving birth to her child? Would this person say, "She probably died because she never wanted to have children"? I can only hope not. But then again we live in a society with so many ignorant insensitive people that we cant be so sure what people will say or do. Having read this status was enough for me to move on and not dwell on what stupid people say. I was again reminded of how BLESSED I am, not only to have a beautiful child and awesome family but to be able to live another day. Thank you God.
Back to my visit with Gina and her family. It was awesome. He met Tio Richie and his cousin Cassandra for the first time. Aiden loved meeting them and almost always was relaxed just being held by Tio and Cassandra. Although Cassandra didnt like being spit up on or smelling his poopy diaper. :)
My friends Rebecca and Usherla came out to meet Aiden. Both friends came bearing gifts. Rebecca brought clothes and a musical toy that looks like a kiddy Ipod. Aiden has his first Ipod already! Thanks Beck! Usherla also came with a gift. Aiden now has his first Gallaudet T shirt. A really cute onesie with a monkey on the front. Pretty soon my little boy is gonna be representing mommy and her Alma Mater! Thanks Ush! We enjoyed both visits and hope to see them again the next time we r in town.
We also visited my nephew Kyle (Gina's son) at school in Newport News, Virginia. It was great to see him and see that he is continuing his college education. I cant get over how Kyle is now 20 years old and has one more year left of College. He'll be the second one to graduate in our family. I'm so proud of him! I was amazed on how calm Kyle was holding and meeting his cousin Aiden for the first time. He was probably the first young person I know that held him with such grace and made sure he supported his head. Hes such a natural. :)
We all know time flies when you are having fun. My week went by too fast. But I came back refreshed and content. I reconnected with mother nature and thought about what I want to happen in the near future. I decided I am not going to return to work any time soon. I am going to be a stay at home mom and ensure that my son will be provided the best possible care. I also decided that although I love NYC and the fast paced life, its time to enjoy a slower paced life where I can stop to smell the roses. I really hope that pretty soon, I will be living in a home with a backyard and be able to do all the things I love to do. Have a cup of coffee, rock my baby to sleep, let Petey run around and have summer BBQ's. I hope to soon enjoy the simple things in life that many take for granted. One day I say.. One day..
Titi Gina picked us up and we spent the rest of the week in Fredericksburg, VA. To some Fredericksburg is in the boonies, to some its not. To me its just right! A little bit of country with a small farm nearby but short hour drive to the city! (Washington, DC) I have always loved visiting with my sis and her family. Its always a nice and relaxing get away for me, where I can get up early in the morning and have a nice cup of coffee sitting on the deck surrounded by tall trees and a small creek right behind the house. Well I just discovered that like mommy, baby loves the outdoors too. There were two occasions when Aiden was fussing and it seemed that nothing would calm him down, so I thought to myself lets try going out on the deck. I wrapped him up in his blanket and as soon as we went out while rocking him, he became quiet and fell right to sleep. Not only does mommy and baby love the backyard, my Boston Terrier Petey loves it too. He loved running around fetching his frisbee and a broken soccer ball. He didn't even care if it was raining. :)
(Pause)
I'm back again. Wow. When I first started writing this blog this morning, I was in good spirit and ready to share nothing but good things. But then I had to stop to tend to Aiden, put him down for a nap and was able to chat with a friend while he slept. During the conversation, I learned that someone had shared with this friend that the reason that I was given (I say BLESSED because I now have a different and better perspective of life) a child who has Down Syndrome is because I once never wanted children. Meaning, this was a form of punishment. After the conversation, I couldn't help but feel sad that someone would say something like this. But the more I thought about it, I started to get angry inside and wanted to find out who this person was. How could someone say such a thing? Was this person a friend of mine? It was beginning to eat me up inside that I was actually starting to wonder if there was any truth to this persons insensitive comment. A little while later, I was reading facebook statuses and came across a status of a friend who posted a picture of a friend she had just lost. Her friend was pregnant. Although its not clear what happened and I did not want to ask, it was obvious this person lost her life when she delivered her daughter. I dont know who she was but she was glowing with a beautiful belly. It broke my heart to think about the heartbreak that her family and friends are going through especially that her daughter will be raised not ever having the chance to know her mommy. Then I started to think again about the insensitive comment that ruined my day and asked myself, would this insensitive person say such a thing about a woman who had just died after giving birth to her child? Would this person say, "She probably died because she never wanted to have children"? I can only hope not. But then again we live in a society with so many ignorant insensitive people that we cant be so sure what people will say or do. Having read this status was enough for me to move on and not dwell on what stupid people say. I was again reminded of how BLESSED I am, not only to have a beautiful child and awesome family but to be able to live another day. Thank you God.
Back to my visit with Gina and her family. It was awesome. He met Tio Richie and his cousin Cassandra for the first time. Aiden loved meeting them and almost always was relaxed just being held by Tio and Cassandra. Although Cassandra didnt like being spit up on or smelling his poopy diaper. :)
My friends Rebecca and Usherla came out to meet Aiden. Both friends came bearing gifts. Rebecca brought clothes and a musical toy that looks like a kiddy Ipod. Aiden has his first Ipod already! Thanks Beck! Usherla also came with a gift. Aiden now has his first Gallaudet T shirt. A really cute onesie with a monkey on the front. Pretty soon my little boy is gonna be representing mommy and her Alma Mater! Thanks Ush! We enjoyed both visits and hope to see them again the next time we r in town.
We also visited my nephew Kyle (Gina's son) at school in Newport News, Virginia. It was great to see him and see that he is continuing his college education. I cant get over how Kyle is now 20 years old and has one more year left of College. He'll be the second one to graduate in our family. I'm so proud of him! I was amazed on how calm Kyle was holding and meeting his cousin Aiden for the first time. He was probably the first young person I know that held him with such grace and made sure he supported his head. Hes such a natural. :)
We all know time flies when you are having fun. My week went by too fast. But I came back refreshed and content. I reconnected with mother nature and thought about what I want to happen in the near future. I decided I am not going to return to work any time soon. I am going to be a stay at home mom and ensure that my son will be provided the best possible care. I also decided that although I love NYC and the fast paced life, its time to enjoy a slower paced life where I can stop to smell the roses. I really hope that pretty soon, I will be living in a home with a backyard and be able to do all the things I love to do. Have a cup of coffee, rock my baby to sleep, let Petey run around and have summer BBQ's. I hope to soon enjoy the simple things in life that many take for granted. One day I say.. One day..
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