As
Carissa start getting bigger and older I was starting to get concerned
for she wasn't bearing any weight on the legs, holding rattles, or rolling
over. So I started her in the birth to 3 program. At the same time I
was having general public coming up and asking me if my little girl
had DS. I always answered No for it was never brought to my attention
by the doctors. At Carissa's 6,9,12 month well baby check appts. I kept
asking the doctor if there is a possibility of Carissa having DS he
kept reassuring me no but never did run any blood tests. When Carissa
needed her 16 month well baby check I discovered that her doctor had
resigned and I was out seeking for a new doctor for her. At the time
of her appt. the new doctor ordered blood work and called my husband
and I to come in, the tests came back positive. I didn't know what to
think, that was the worse day of my life thinkin (DS, MD, what???) I
went in with Carissa and the Doctor broke the news that Carissa is definitely
MDS, I never cried so much in my life, I thought oh my gosh how could
this be? How could this former doctor pass it up? With the help I was
givin with the local Gene Pool and Genetics Counseling I realized that
if I would of found out sooner of her diagnoses it really wouldn't of
changed anything.
When Carissa was 1 1/2 yrs old my husband and I start having marital
problems and Carissa went through a numerous amount of tests. (eye,
ear, heart, thyroid, etc.) it was than that Carissa has been diagnosed
with a nerve hearing loss and an underactive thyroid. Later on my husband
and I divorced, and since I now have a wonderful man in my life that
accepts and loves Carissa as his own. Carissa has start recieving summer
school in 2003 she just finished up her second year and is loving it.
She is progressing along well and no longer needs the physical, oral
therapy, but still recieves occupational and verbal. We are currently
dealing with some behavior and potty training issues with Carissa but
we are progressing along well. Her growth is over 95 percentile on the
DS chart. She is a very affectionate little girl (hugs, kisses, cuddle).
Carissa's main interests are music/dance, art (drawing/writing), going
bye bye, and watching t.v. (blues clues, teletubbies, boobah, sponge
bob, Mr Rogers, Full House) Story time, and most of all being outdoors
and riding her bike, and swimming.
Carissa and I have got through and been through a lot together, we take
good care of each other. I'm sure there is more obstacles to jump over
and I believe that if you want the best for your child there isn't any
obstacle to is to hard to get through.
I'd be willing to share more detailed experiences for those whom would
like to chat, and in return I could surely use more support myself.
Feel free to email me at anytime
