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Our Turn in the Road
I am 42 and yes 42 and a new mom.
This was NOT planned and honestly at first I was not too excited about changing my family dynamics.
Life was easy. There was the occasional talking back of my seven year old. There was my little girl’s daily drama of getting dressed, and the need to just get away. But as I was sitting in NICU at the hospital looking at this precious new life, I knew life was going to get interesting.
How many times has my doctor told me about ways to control this - well I am 42 and I can figure this out. But I suppose we got a surprise, a bonus, and a gift of sorts that was unexpected.
It took me 18 weeks to get used to the fact that yes we are going to have another baby. For many weeks, we heard, "Oh congratulations" "This is wonderful" "I can't wait to see the baby".
Well those responses changed. We then heard, "I am so sorry”; "You were chosen" "This is all going to be ok" "It’s going to be so different" "How in the world did this happen?" "I dreamed that this happened to your baby!" "The first thing of thought was this!" I only heard two times, "Congratulations! You are having a baby!"
What occurred to bring about so much change? Well, we took a prenatal journey through tests and more tests to find out that our sweet baby girl was going to be born with Down syndrome.
The fears that I had a year ago upon finding out have subsided. I now feel calm and self-assured. I do have my moments, but I do understand that we are in the most incredible city for this to become our new life.
We have incredible resources. We have groups of people that have reached out to us and support us in everything we do. The Bell Center and The Service Guild are just two.
Before Chambers was born, I was the Mercedes Marathon Chair through the Service Guild. This was my outlet for volunteerism. The Service Guild is a direct supporter of The Bell Center for Early Intervention. How ironic that now I am a Bell Center parent.
As I have become a Bell Center Parent, I have really understood the meaning of being a volunteer through the Service Guild. Not only are you gaining a new group of women to become life long friends. You are truly focusing your volunteer time on one spot. You are helping the early intervention for many children. As a parent, I can tell you it is so appreciated.
The Mercedes Marathon is a huge fundraiser for The Bell Center. My husband and I both decided to run the last leg of the marathon. I am a fitness nut. My husband however, is quite the opposite. So for him, this was something he was truly putting in his heart and soul. We have trained together and I see the pride in his eyes when he knows whom exactly we are supporting. We are part of the Bellrunner program through the Service Guild and Bell Center. With that program, we are able to fundraise for a child. Well the child just so happens to be ours!
We created a team called Chambers Champions. With this team, we tried to create many different ideas for fundraising. Our other kids got involved by having a bake sale to benefit The Bell Center.
Now a year ago I can honestly say I thought my world was coming to an end. No one wants to be told that his or her child is going to have a genetic abnormality.
But now that the reality is here, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. She has changed our family dynamic for the better.
By: Tracy Tiberia Thornton