Dear Dr D,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s Down syndrome Awareness Month, and I thought it was\ntime to give you an update. Cast your mind back to December 2006: I called you\n\u2013 the only paediatrician answering calls 2 weeks before Xmas \u2013 for which I\nthank you – and asked if you\u2019d support my efforts to help my new baby with Down\nsyndrome. Amidst floods of tears, I\u2019d done my research. I\u2019d assembled a two\npage list of the likely health concerns and physical challenges my darling son\nwould face, but felt I could make a difference for him through natural\ntherapies, good nutrition and supplements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Don\u2019t waste your\nmoney on Omega 3\u2019s \u2013 buy a big TV\u2019, you said, \u2018Because your life will never be\nthe same.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chilling words, Dr D, which have spurred me on in the 13\nyears since, words which illustrate a certain set of attitudes and expectations\nfor children born with little more than a bit of extra genetic material \u2013 as if\nGod gave these kids some extra frou frou from his cutting room floor, to make\nthem extra beautiful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your words defied me to get on and prove my fragile,\npost-partum theory – that I could make a difference, that something could be\ndone, that my son\u2019s life would amount to more than just sitting in front of a big\nscreen, waiting to see how many health concerns & challenges we could tick\noff my 2 page list. Your challenge \u2013 for\nwhich I truly thank you \u2013 has enhanced the course of Gryffin\u2019s life, and mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, we got busy, Gryffin and I. We worked as a team \u2013 tirelessly\nand joyously, discovering a world of super nutrition and exercises for brain\ndevelopment, while swallowing stinky herbs to boost immunity. Our family\ncrawled kilometres each day, devoured organic food and made countless books to\nboost his knowledge\u2026 building a strong and sturdy body and a mindset which says\n\u2018anything is possible.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Buoyed by our success, I wrote a book<\/a>, opened an Organic Food business<\/a> and started a Charity<\/a> \u2013 and now there are kids all over the world following Gryffin\u2019s lead, defying the odds – while taking Omega 3s\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, Gryff is almost 13 and Dr D, you\u2019d be proud \u2013 if not\nbemused. He ticks only a couple of boxes on that list, has barely been sick his\nwhole life and has run in the Melbourne Marathon every year since he was 5. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And if you go to the movies this month, you\u2019ll probably see him playing young Stevie Payne in \u2018Ride Like A Girl\u2019<\/a>. On a very big screen. Gotta love the irony…<\/p>\n\n\n\n Happy October,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kristen x<\/p>\n\n\n\n