A Little SomethingExtra
By Dr. Anne Margaret Wright
I cannot tell
you what it is
like to have Down
syndrome, but
perhaps it would
be helpful to tell
you what it is like to
love three children
who do.
It’s just a little something extra: one little extra chromosome. You can’t even see it with the naked eye. But hat little extra chromosome can
have a profound impact on the health
and development of the baby, child, and
adult with Down syndrome.
According to the National Down Syndrome Congress more than 400,000 individuals within the U.S. suffer from Down
syndrome, a condition that affects all races and families from all economic levels.
Each of them is a unique, special, beloved
child of God! I cannot tell you what it is
like to have Down syndrome, but perhaps
it would be helpful to tell you what it is
like to love three children who do.
My husband, Ronny, and I have two
wonderful children who were born to us,
Josiah ( 18) and Zechariah ( 8). Both are
academically gifted and are such a delight
in our lives. We also have three children
who joined our family through adoption
and who all have Down syndrome: Ben-
jamin ( 13), Gabriel ( 10), and Abigail ( 9).
They struggle in many different areas,
including developmental disabilities and
medical challenges, but they also bring
so much joy to all who know them.
