David was the oldest child in my family. The first of 10 children, seven boys and three girls. Dave was born with Down's Syndrome. He was always a very special human being. Quick with a laugh and a smile, he loved music, sports, kids, money and Christmas.
Dave spent his young years in institutions. That's what they did back in those days. "Put him away and forget about him," my parents were told. They did put him in an institution, but they never forgot him. Nor would they let us forget. I remember many, many, MANY a long drive to go see him. First he lived in Coldwater State Home, then, when he was older, he was moved to Plymouth State Home. He always cried when we took him back to those places after a visit with us. And many years later I wondered what his life must have been like there. To this day I cry thinking about what he went through.
I have many wonderful memories of time spent with my brother. When we were all young we all played baseball. He had a GREAT windup for his pitch!! I also remember going trick-or-treating on Halloween, and the next day my family and our friends across the street would gather together and put candy from our bags into another bag to take to David and his freinds at the institution. I also remember many picnics with him on the way to and from picking him up and taking him home. He always did things to surprise and amaze us.
When Michigan first started the move toward de-institutionalizing the mentally handicapped back in the 70s, my brother was among the first to be selected. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened to him. He grew and improved so with the smaller, home setting and one-on-one care. We got to know the people who took care of him in the various homes he lived in. And everybody that ever met him loved him.
David lived much longer than anyone really expected. The life of a Down's Syndrome person is complicated. They are prone to many ailments and have a host of physical problems. Dave developed kidney problems as a result of medication he was on. My dad died in 1989 and Dave went into a deep depression. We all associated the depression with the loss of my dad. Dave loved my dad so much, and my dad loved Dave with all his heart. When Dave's depression did not lift, someone finally did a physical exam and discovered he was in kidney failure. He started on dialiys in 1990 and remained on dialisys until the day he died.
The people at the dialisys center loved my brother, and he loved all of them. He loved to boss them around, and had his rituals that simply had to be followed!! His favorite nurse read a reading at his funeral.
Dave lived in many group homes. The last one he lived in took very good care of him. They all loved him so much. I really consider them family to him more than myself, because they saw him every day, and understood him so much more than I ever could. They deeply grieve his loss, and the woman who owns the home gave a moving eulogy to him at his funeral. One of his friends read the 23rd Psalm, and another spoke of his love for my brother. It was so moving.
The day we laid him to rest, the sun was shining and the leaves were falling to the ground. Christmas is coming -- and Christmas is his favorite time of year. I know my dad welcomed him home with open arms, and my grandparents, cousin and uncle who all went before us are there with him now, watching over him and making him feel at home. He is out of his pain... and he no longer has to struggle. He is buried next to my dad's parents and my dad's brother, and I feel so good that he is there with them. May his soul rest in peace, a peace he so richly deserves.
Thank you - all of you who ever met him and loved him. Thank all of you for your loving support of me. And bless all of you who work with people with Down's Syndrome. You are all very special to me.
Go rest high on that mountainSon your work on earth is doneGo to Heaven a shoutin'Love for the Father and the Son
(Vince Gill)
This page Copyright 1997 by Binky