roll call

[Guest guest]

Hello, my name is Pusatera and my husband and I live in

Chicago, IL. We have three sons, Aidan 3, 1, and Dillon 8wks.

Dillon has Down Syndrome. We were told at 12 weeks that we were at

high risk for DS due to an abnormal lab value but as the pregnancy

advanced our risk became less after our level II ultrasound since aLL

was normal. Still in the back of my head I had a feeling that Dillon

had DS. We declined the amnio due to the fact I have a history of

premature labor and delivery with our other boys. The results of the

amnio would not have changed our minds about the pregnancy so we saw

no need to take the risk. Dillon was born 11-7-07 at 34 weeks. I knew

the moment I saw him that he had DS, I was already having the mommy

sense that he was going to have DS. Dillon was as healthy as could

be, his echo was perfect, no feeding problems, great muscle tone and

is very active, the only problem we have is his hearing. He has

failed his hearing test 2x in his right ear, he has passed in his

left. We do not know if the loss is due to fluid because his canals

are so small they are unable to visualize the internal ear. We go

back this week for another hearing test so I am keeping my fingers

crossed.

My biggest fear has always been to have a child with special needs. I

think being a pediatric nurse I always think of the health issues

that go along with the different syndromes and how difficult life can

be for the families, I always felt sorry for them. I now realize how

wrong I was and that I couldn't imagine my life without Dillon the

same way these families can't picture their lives without thier

child. I now realize how the parents feel about their children with

health/behavior issues that I care for. Becoming a parent made me a

more empathetic nurse and now Dillon has made me realize there is no

reason to pitty or feel sorry for these families because they are

happy and full of love.

I have met some of the most wonderful people in the last 8 wks

because of Dillon. They have all been parents of children with DS who

have contacted me to help me with getting the ball rolling with EI

and what is out there for our children.

I love reading the stories of the families on the website, it gives

insight into what Dillon's future will hold.

Pusatera