Hello all!!!

Thank you for visiting this page and considering supporting our beautiful humans with Ds!! 

The Canadian Down Syndrome Society holds a very special place in our hearts for helping to create this beautiful community we get to be a part of, and by being here your are now a part of this community too. :)

I (Mom) found out Maya may have Down syndrome from a common early prenatal blood test. I chose not to do any further testing because I didn't want to risk any harm to my sweet baby who was planned and wanted... and at the time it didn't matter if anything was "wrong". What will be, will be. Right? As time went on though; I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried and scared. I didn't know much of anything or anyone in regards to Down syndrome. I knew of Joey Moss and the beauty of that is it didn't really register that he had Down syndrome. Joey Moss is simply Joey Moss. I had a lovey Borther in-law called Nathan- and he had Down syndrome too, and still he was simply Nathan. Sometimes people are so damn divine we love them for them and any extras about them don't matter; do they? 

Now, I was scared that Maya would have Ds because I was uneducated to what life would be like to care for, and the future, and overall quality of life for this sweet child to be. I had no idea there was a whole community I could have connected with.

I would bring up the what ifs and my worries  with Maya's Dad and a few close friends and I would get shut down. "Don't focus on the negative, don't worry, wait and see, it will be fine, all the other tests are "normal".... no one I was confiding in would talk with me about Down syndrome. I had no one to talk to and I knew in my heart that she had Down syndrome. That was a very, very, very lonely time. Very lonely. Very sad. I felt completely alone and I was very scared for the precious life that was about to arrive. I didn't know what to expect. 

The Canadian Down Syndrome Society helps support all Canadians with Ds. They offer support for people with Down syndrome through local organizations and communities, families, and individuals. If this organization didn't exist I don't know where Maya and I would be right now... life would have been very different because I was absolutely devastated when Maya was born. Everyone around me- even medical professionals brushed it off... "okay, nothing to worry about, the scans look good". I have to make space for those feelings I had earlier now because now I know different. It was still a sad and lonely space at one time, and I have worked to heal that scared 25yo that was walking into the unknown. 

With that being said, the beautiful umbrella that is the Canadian Down Syndrome Society offers a wealth of information, connections, and support for new and current families on this Ds journey. It's truly amazing. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't know where I would be without this community. 
 

I had no idea there was a whole Down syndrome community. I felt alone. Now, some of my dearest friends are within this community. When I felt lost and hopeless with no one to talk to, I found this community and it saved me and helped me to help Maya! I leaned so, so, so hard on this community many, many times. Love. 
 

Here we are doing a fundraiser for this amazing community that is integral to uplifting families and beautiful humans in the Down syndrome community. Everyone should know that this community exists so people like me don't feel so alone and scared about a diagnosis. Please join us and share this so others are aware we are here to keep awareness open to new families in need. I know the need and it's absolutely precious  

Please share! 

We love you!

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