Awareness Month

October is Awareness Month.

I'm sure that most other months have many organizations for which awareness are commemorated.

October has two which are particularly close to my heart,

along with at least 112 besides!

 

Some of them are:

Bat Appreciation Month

Church Library Month

Domestic Violence Awareness

Go Hog Wild ~ Eat Country Ham

National Bake & Decorate Month

National Chili, Cookie, Popcorn Poppin',

Pear, Pineapple and Pizza

(not in that exact order ~ and I lumped them together)

Rett Syndrome Awareness Month

Right Brainers Rule! Month

Squirrel Awareness Month

(Different than Squirrel Appreciation Day in January)

World Menopause Month

 

But the two I most particularly want to mention have both had an impact on my life and the life of my family.

 

Breast Cancer Awareness

 

Breast cancer has touched my family several times.  And though the  battle was fought long and hard, ultimately the battle was lost.

 

Ladies, get your mammograms ~ get them annually,

get them religiously.

Don't hide from possibilities. 

Take action!

Be your own best friend,

take care of yourself.

 

 

Down Syndrome Awareness

 

Down syndrome entered our lives, twenty~five and a half years ago, when my nephew, Drew, a fraternal twin, was born with Down syndrome. 

And again, nineteen years ago when our youngest son,

~ let's call him, Kyle ~

oh, wait, that's his name...

let's call him, Kyle anyway ~

was born with Down syndrome.

 

Because of prenatal testing we knew that Kyle would be born with Down syndrome.

But exactly what is Down syndrome and what does it mean for the individual who has Down syndrome?

 

• Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition.
• One in 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome.
• Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.  This additional genetic material alters the course of development and cause the characteristics associated with Down syndrome.
• There are three types of Down syndrome:  trisomy 21~accounts for 95% of cases, translocation accounts for about 4% and mosaicism 1%.
• Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels.
• A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, and upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm.
• Every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to a different degree or not at all.
• People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical conditions.
• People with Down syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many ways.
• All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses.

How has Down syndrome affected our family?

How has Down syndrome affected me?

What should you know about a person with Down syndrome?

 

All these, and much, much more will be to topics in the coming month.

So, sit back, buckle your seat belt and come along on a ride of

Down syndrome awareness.

Kyle

One year old

One of my all time favorite photos.

Kyle and Drew

2013