Tate

I was around 30 weeks pregnant with Tate when we found out she had a 93% chance of having Down Syndrome. I was scared, naïve and had very little knowledge of DS. I would wake up everyday feeling scared and unprepared so I would pray she would be born typical. I sit here now, holding Tate and I’m not scared, I feel no fear, only peace and look back in disbelief that I was scared of this.

Minutes after Tate was born the doctors and nurses told us they were fairly certain she had DS. My husband and I quickly learned she is just a baby who may not be typical, but she is normal. She had the same needs that every newborn has, to be fed, changed, and snuggled. The walls that I had confined myself in broke down and my heart was open to this sweet girl and our new life. I wish everyone could break down their walls and let go of the fear and stigma that goes along with “different”. Tate has taught our family that different is not only okay, but is beautiful. I love knowing her three older brothers will have this mindset as they grow.

Tate has done amazing things if her first 11 months of life, every milestone she hits is a big accomplishment knowing how hard she worked for it. Tate is a comedic genius and has a delightful, outgoing personality. We feel the same love for her that we feel for our other children who are typical. There is a myth that parents of children with disabilities are super-human and it is not true. We fight for her just like any other parent would fight for their child. Unfortunately, because of her diagnosis, we have to fight harder for her than our other children and that is what we want to change in the world.