Emily's story
"...at every step of the way, when we've needed them, we've been supported and helped
by the charity"
“I knew as soon as I looked into Emily's eyes that she had Down syndrome...The hospital was
very good in giving us what information they had, but a lot of it focused on what children
with Down syndrome may not be able to do.
“...I think we both decided that you just have to live in the moment. You can't second guess
what their development will be like – just as you can't with any other child. We put all of
the information we'd received from the hospital in a filing cabinet and got in touch with
Down Syndrome Education International. What a difference that made!
“Here the emphasis was on early intervention, on proactively encouraging the children to
develop their language and reading skills. The stories and experiences of other parents, the
information available, the specialists we met, were all so positive about the future of the
children.
“Of course there have been challenges along the way. Emily has had heart surgery –
thankfully she sailed through it; she's had a lot of speech problems, so has needed
intensive speech therapy; and like many other parents, we've had to fight for Emily to be
accepted into mainstream education. But at every step of the way, when we've needed them,
we've been supported and helped by the charity.
“It really goes to show that with the right knowledge, information and support, you can do
anything. I just wish that all parents, doctors and midwives knew about the charity – it would
make such a huge difference.”
Kim, mother of 8 year old Emily.
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