Now I know I've only been a Mumma to a baby with special needs for 6 months & I don't have much to offer in terms of advice & all...In reality, Reid is just a baby & Down syndrome has really played second fiddle to her eye & heart surgery, heart failure, numerous hospital stays, feeding tubes & such...



To be completely honest, I really didn't even know if we'd get here -celebrating 6 months with Reid...The first few months of her life felt like it was constantly one thing after another in regards to her health...Some really scary moments happened, where now looking back Craig & I can say we thought we might have lost her but never voiced at the time...But, Sweet Jesus, here we are today & I feel in a way, in these 6 short months, I have earned my badge of honour as a Special Needs Mumma...


So, although I can't tell y'all what life as a mum of a child with special needs will be like later, this is what I know to be true now...




1- Different is more beautiful than you can imagine...


I've been quite open about sharing my thoughts about how devastated I was when we found out Reid had Down syndrome...I so wish the mum, person, woman I am today could have held the scared mum, gutted person & unintentionally ignorant woman I was that day...Yes, it's important to grieve what you thought your baby would be, but I wish I could see my life, my baby girl & all the beauty it's brought to that very sad hospital room 6 months ago.


~Seconds after Reid was born~



2- Love & Support will be life changing...


The vast amount of love that came from friends, communities, even strangers has changed how I view the world...It's changed how I will act or show kindness to someone else, how I will support those that need it & how I will truly love others from now on...




3- You are tougher than you even know...


I always thought of myself as quite a strong person- But these last 6 months pushed me to limits I didn't know I could do...It has changed my definition of what strength is & watching Reid overcome challenge after challenge brought a determination within me that nothing in my life has come close to...
~3 nights of no sleep, months of  an intense feeding schedule & hours before Reid's heart surgery~




4- With that strength comes a fierce Mumma-Bear-Protectiveness...


You will become an advocate for your child in ways you didn't have to with your other children...Not only medically speaking with Reid, but I now feel the need to advocate & bring awareness to Down syndrome & share our lives so others can see how amazing it all can be...

In one of Reid's hospital stays, I was sharing a room with another little girl with Down syndrome & her mother from Algeria...We got talking & I was stunned in sadness, when she told me that if they had stayed in Algeria her daughter would have had a very difficult life...That they had to flea to Canada to give her any opportunity to thrive and/or survive...Between that & learning that many Down syndrome children are given up for adoption or aborted, I feel that part of my purpose now in life is to advocate & show others that although our life is a wee bit different it's amazing & full & oh so bright...





5- Stop the worrying, Shut Up & just watch...


One of the things I "grieved" most when I found out Reid had Down syndrome was for my son, Noal- that he wouldn't have the typical sibling relationship & I was so very sad for him...

What wasted tears those were...Noal adores Reid, has such a strong protective presence in her little life so far & I know truly will be a sweeter little boy because of her...





6- You will believe in miracles...

Whether it's feeling like the whole world was thinking of your baby during a surgery or simply watching your baby with special needs hit a milestone...It will feel like a miracle...And you will in turn have a greater understanding of hope, gratefulness & want to thank God, Karma, Fate or Whomever- I promise you at some point you will be so grateful for something your child with special needs does...



So, there you have it...Although there most definitely have been challenges, gutted moments & a whole lot of heartache- The past 6 months has changed my life, shown me a new beautiful perspective on things & opened my eyes to things I never would have known else wise...




Wonder all what you will teach me in life Pip...Happy 6 months baby girl...