¨A Family Love Story By The Magnus Family
¨ Bloom by Kelle Hampton
Bloom takes readers on a wondrous journey through Nella’s first year of life – a gripping, hilarious, and intensely poignant trip of transformation in which a mother learns that perfection comes in all different shapes. It is a story about embracing life and really living it, of being fearless and accepting difference, of going beyond constricting definitions of beauty, and of the awesome power of perspective. As Kelle writes, “There is us. Our Family. We will embrace this beauty and make something of it. We will hold our precious gift and know that we are lucky.”
¨Choosing Naia A Family’s Journey by Mitchell Zuckoff
Greg and Tierney Fairchild are a well-educated, middle class couple who are thrilled to discover that Tierney is pregnant. Tierney undergoes all of the usual tests, and the Fairchilds are stunned to discover that not only does their unborn child have a hole in her heart, but that she may also be born with Down syndrome.
A dramatic and carefully detailed account of one family’s journey through the maze of genetic counselling, medical technology, and disability rights; destined to become required reading for anyone touched by any of these issues.
¨Count Us In – Growing up with Down syndrome by J. Kinglsey and M. Levitz
Kingsley and Levitz write about education, employment, ambitions, families, sex and marriage, and their disability–Down syndrome–in a dialogue format. At Jason’s birth, the obstetrician said that he’d never learn anything and should be institutionalized. Fortunately, the Kingsleys ignored this advice, and their son has since attended school, written poetry, registered to vote, and memorized scripts for appearances on “Sesame Street” and “The Fall Guy.” Mitchell is an equally successful young man whose mother was one of the founders of the Parent Assistance Committee on Down Syndrome. Hearing about Down syndrome directly from these young men has a good deal more impact than reading any guide from a professional or even a parent. Their comments are eye-opening and heartening.
¨Down syndrome Parenting 101 – Must-have advice for making your life easier by Natalie Hale
Down syndrome Parenting 101 is required reading for parents, grandparents, or anyone who has a relationship with a person with Down syndrome.Natalie Hale offers advice on everything from celebrating a child’s unique personality and seeing him for who he is to insisting he finish his chores and ensuring he has the space to be his own person as an adult.She leads readers through every stage of growing up, highlighting the experiences and people they will encounter along the way.She also lends tremendous support to parents, with frequent reminders to follow their intuition, embrace their sense of humour, and remember that even kids with Down syndrome need discipline from time to time.
¨Expecting Adam by Martha Beck
A poignant tale of how the birth of her son Adam forced her to re-think her life and reconsider values. Beautiful and touching story.
¨Gifts – Mothers Reflect on How their children with d/s enrich their lives
Having a baby with Down syndrome is not something most parents would willingly choose. Yet many who travel this path discover rich, unexpected rewards along the way. In this candid and poignant collection of personal stories, sixty-three mothers describe the gifts of respect, strength, delight, perspective, and love, which their child with Down syndrome has brought into their lives. The contributors to this collection have diverse personalities and perspectives, and draw from a wide spectrum of ethnicity, world views, and religious beliefs. Some are parenting within a traditional family structure; some are not. Some never considered terminating their pregnancy; some struggled with the decision. Some were calm at the time of diagnosis; some were traumatized. Some write about their pregnancy and the months after giving birth; some reflect on years of experience with their child. Their diverse experiences point to a common truth: The life of a child with Down syndrome is something to celebrate. These women have something to say–not just to other mothers but to all of us.
¨Light at the end of the Tunnel
Reflections from parents whose child with Down syndrome was diagnosed before birth.
¨Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
In 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins, he immediately recognizes that one of them has Down Syndrome and makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and to keep her birth a secret. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, “The Memory Keeper”s Daughter” is an astonishing tale of redemptive love.
¨Road Map To Holland by Jennifer Groneberg
It’s like planning a trip to Italy, only to get off the plane and discover you’re actually in Holland. You need a new road map, and fast…
When Jennifer Groneberg and her husband learned they’d be having twin boys, their main concern was whether they’d need an addition on their house. Then, five days after Avery and Bennett were born, Avery was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
Here, Jennifer shares the story of what followed. She dealt with doctors-some who helped, and some who were disrespectful or even dangerous. She saw some relationships in her life grow stronger, while severing ties with people who proved unsupportive. And she continues to struggle to find balance in the hardships and joys of raising a child with special needs. This book is a resource, a companion for parents, and above all, a story of the love between a mother and her son-as she learns that Avery is exactly the child she never knew she wanted.
¨Tangled Webs by Barbara M. Robinson
Bringing up a child is a time-consuming but rewarding task for any parent. But what is it like for the parent of a child with a disability? What then? Anxious and concerned parents, conscientious or dismissive caregivers, arrogant or caring do-gooders, insensitive or dedicated professionals, all come together to form Tangled Webs through which the journey of a child with disabilities and her family are portrayed. This is the story of the dedication of the people who supported Sharon, who was born with Down syndrome. She matures despite all headaches, problems, and doomsayers, to become independent from her family. It is a story of triumph in a world of adversity. Tangled Webs has a message for everyone in today’s society; parents, educators, social workers and medical care providers; anyone who has contact with people with disabilities.
¨The Life We Never Expected by Andrew & Rachel Wilson
Hopeful reflections on the challenges of parenting children with special needs.
¨The Year My Son and I Were Born: A Story of Down Syndrome, Motherhood, and Self-Discovery by Kathryn Lynard Soper
