Life with Anthony
November 26th, 2007He’s a cute, sweet, happy toddler — with Down syndrome. A generation ago, he’d probably be growing up in an institution — but today his world is open.
Parenting Magazine visits with a Nashville couple whose youngest son was diagnosed with Down syndrome in the delivery room right after birth. Lisa and Mike Spellman, respectively an attorney and a neuroradiologist, discuss their initial grief and their journey toward accepting their son’s diagnosis and celebrating him as a unique personality and vital member of their family.
Lisa remembers that after Anthony was born, the mom of a child with Down syndrome told her, “I know the deep, dark place you’re in right now, and you’re not going to be there forever.” That prediction has come true.
“Anthony completes our family, and I wouldn’t have him any other way,” says Lisa. “He’ll be teaching us all our lives — he’s already taught me so much about patience. I see how hard he works to sit up, or to reach out for a toy, or to get up on all fours.
“You take for granted how easily things come to you, and to your other kids, but every day with Anthony, there’s a new discovery, a new joy.”
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on Monday, November 26th, 2007 at 6:19 pm and is filed under Down syndrome, families, parents, siblings.
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February 13th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I was hoping to get a message to the Spellman family as my wife Kei and I have a son with Down syndrome also. He is 7 years old and is in a mainstream classroom setting and has the highest reading level in his class. He is the only child with special needs in his class. The secret we found to unlocking William’s potential was to teach him American Sign Language beginning at two years of age. It turned on something in him and and has really allowed fantastic growth in his ability to read, speak and communicate in a global fashion. I would love to send them some instructional DVD’s to help them with their son. We have a large community of friends who also use ASL with their children that have Down syndrome, spina bifita, autism, etc. It is a Godsend. Please check out the product we used for William at http://www.signingtime.com
ASL is not for just deaf children!
Thanks,
Robert Malone
Charlemont, MA