Jerek is very special, not only because he has Down Syndrome, but just because he is who he is. I think back to the day after he was born when the doctors said he had DS. I remember being very upset and crying a lot, but now I don't remember why. Probably because we were uneducated about DS and were afraid of what it would mean for us and for Jerek. Now, I wouldn't change one thing about him. That extra chromsome 21 is what makes him so special. I feel bad for what he will have to go through during his life because others aren't educated about DS, but if they would just get to know him, they would understand why we love him so much.
It's amazing how that one extra chromosome affects every cell in his body. We were at physical therapy one day when the therapist said something about developing his abdominal muscles so his diaphragm would be positioned correctly and he could cry. We just thought he was a good baby - never did we think that maybe he just didn't have the strength. Well, let me tell you, that therapist did a good job of developing those muscles. Now Jerek can cry and yell as good as the next.
