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Elias |
| November 1998 |
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Elias was born September 29th,1997.
Before he was born we already knew that there was
some probability of him having Down Syndrome
because of the results of an AFP, a blood test
taken during pregnancy. We refused further
invasive diagnostics because we wanted to have
Elias in any case with our without handicap and
because an amniocentesis can always put the
pregnancy at risk. Nevertheless we were
intimidated, and the time after getting the AFP
results has been the most difficult time while
getting along with DS. I am often thinking now
that had I already known Elias I wouldnt have
needed to be so afraid! That is why by this site
we want to encourage everybody who might be
confronted with the diagnosis that their unborn
child has DS!
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When I held Elias in my arms after a
quick but violent birth I saw at once
that in fact he had DS. Reacting on our
request the midwife called a pedriatician
who confirmed this diagnosis. There were
mixed feelings in us, but it was very
helpful for us that we had prepared for
this moment by reading some literature.
Luckily Elias was healthy, so the first
night he spent on his fatherīs belly in
a family room of the hospital, and the
next day we went home. He was loved at
first sight by his brother and sister. |
| October 1997 |
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From the beginning I breastfed
Elias, and he was drinking very well. Only in the
first weeks we had to wake him up rather often in
order to make him drink enough. It was good to
get support from our midwife for this was
different to my other children. In nearly all
other respects Elias was the same as any other
baby, loving to be carried, cuddled and to take
part in family life. Lots of people couldnīt
really believe that he has that additional
chromosome.
In about the first seven months
there were no bigger differences in development
compared to "normal" babies. Elias
could fix us at once, began to hold up his head
quickly and at the age of 5 1/2 weeks smiled for
the first time. But in a way we had to make some
more efforts to make him smile or laugh, as if we
had to "wake him up" here, too. Now I
think it was very important for him that we
talked, sang and laughed with him so much and
always payed attention to his reactions. Thus
nowadays he is very awake!
Beginning with the second half
year of his life in spite of physiotherapy,
development was slowing down a little compared to
mainstream. Eg. Elias was 7 months, when he was
able to sit alone, sitting up by himself at 11
months. At the age of 10 months he pulled himself
up to stand, at 15 months he was able to crawl on
all fours. Being one year old he could say "Mom"
and "ball". He is eating now everything
but still wants to be breastfed once a day.
Elias is a very happy and
friendly child, but very sensitive, too. When
there is any struggle in the family we can be
sure that he begins to cough and is at danger of
getting bronchitis. This correlation is so clear
that we are sometimes so astonished: one more
reason to look for peace!
Against all fears, Elias has only
made our life richer. By his own unique
personality , but additionally leading us to a
new sight of the world and making us get in
contact to many wonderful people be it here in
our surrounding or worldwide through self-support-groups
on the internet. So having lived through the
uncertainty of the time of pregnancy and the
first weeks of Eliasīlife we are now only happy
to have him here just like he is!
February 1999, Anke
Elias' Update Sites:
Homepage
des Arbeitskreises DOWN-Syndrom e.V.
Homepage of an interesting German
self-support-group
Down-Syndrome:
Health Issues
made by Len Leshin, an American
pediatrician, including lots of interesting
articles about health issues and current research.
You can find lots of important links, too, if you
go to "DS Information Links"on this
site.
In July 1999 I visited some of my
best mailfriends of the German DS-list and the
American Upsndowns-list. Here you can find some
of the pictures of our children and us:
Swiss-German
Meeting 1999
We would like to read your
comments - it is the first time we made up a
website! So send us
an e-mail please. Just as if you have
questions about Down Syndrome - may it concern
prenatal diagnostics or early intervention or
others we would be glad to help you with all
information and links we have collected so far.
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