Helping Kids around the World with Down Syndrome

In these last few days of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I stumbled on a website that pulled at my heart strings.

Nearly 7 years ago, I had a baby with Mosaic Down syndrome.  My husband and I did not know what this meant, nor the difficulties that lie ahead, nor the pain we’d suffer in adjusting to the news those first few months.

But now as I witness Amelia growing and thriving, my heart fills with joy every single time I see her, and cannot even begin to tell you about the gifts she has brought into our home.

Six years ago, another mother had a baby with Down syndrome. Andrea Roberts and her husband also shared the pain and loneliness that Chris and I experienced.

The difference? She channeled that pain and did something.  Reece’s Rainbow is the organization she started to help parents cope with having a baby with Down syndrome.  In 2 short years, it grew to a program that helps people adopt children with Down syndrome who have no families all over the world.

After viewing the site, I went to the adoption page for girls, and in every child, I saw my daughter’s eyes.  I wept thinking about how these kids have no parent to love and guide them, missed out on early intervention, and have a slim shot  at becoming the productive and contented members of society that I know most of them can be.

I know it because I’ve watched how our love and guidance, combined with early intervention and lots of resources have helped our two disabled children flourish in their own ways.

How can you help?

First, I recommend you:

• Watch their video, and note that these kids are institutionalized at age 4, living “on borrowed time, unwanted, unloved, hungry and alone“.
• Visit their site.

Then, if you feel moved as I did, you can do somethings:

• Pray.  Something anyone can do.
• Donate to Reece’s Rainbow.
• Help out their Angel Tree project.
• Go to their blog and download badges for your blog.
• Sponsor a child for adoption. Each child can have a fund of their own.  It’s very costly to adopt, especially out of country, and while many want to adopt, few have the means. Here’s where RR can help.
• If you are considering adopting a special needs child, or know someone who is, spread the word.
• Contact Andrea and let her know other ideas you have for helping her cause.

If we all pull together, we can help these children and they can grow in to the beautiful meant-to-be people that God intended. ‘Nuf said…