Mother embraces challenges, joys of daughter with disability
June 1st, 2008
From the [Columbia] Missourian, an extended feature on the Basi family: Kate and husband Christian, and kids Alex, 3, and Julianna, 15 months. Kate describes the family as “a mutual adoration society.” Julianna has Down syndrome.
Taking care of two young children can be demanding – the smiles and celebrations often contrast with headaches and frustrations. When one of those children has Down syndrome, which causes developmental delays, the day-to-day challenges of raising a family can be tougher.
… [Kate Basi] feels the push-pull of having a child with a disability: It’s not what she dreamed for her family, but if she could take away Julianna’s Down syndrome, she wouldn’t – because then Julianna would be a different person. Basi said Julianna is perfect the way she is.
“She’s beautiful. She’s got every bit as much personality as Alex did at her age. She’s feisty, opinionated, vocal,” Basi said. “She’s very driven.”
Basi said there’s nothing that sets Julianna apart from other children – she’s easy to love. The only thing that makes her different is the extra chromosome.
… “It’s given us a whole new depth of appreciation for life,” Basi said. “She’s taught us so much about what’s important and the trappings of life that aren’t really important.”
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June 2nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I was searching Google for the Missourian article and stumbled across your link. Thanks for including us! I’m working on a blog entry on my web site right now for the part of the interview that she did not include — the part in which I took the world to task for not valuing our children.