Nicole Marsh, 37, was devastated by her son’s diagnosis. But then her two little girls came up with an ingenious way to help...
Arriving home for the first time with my newborn son James cradled in my arms, my identical twin girls, Finley and Isabella, then three, crowded around him excitedly. Tickling his feet and kissing his head, they couldn’t get enough of him, and in that moment I was so glad my baby boy had his big sisters to look after him.
It was April 2010 and James was just a day old. With the same shock of blond hair and gorgeous blue eyes, he looked just like his sisters. But when he was born, and I first held him in my arms, that familiar warmth of maternal love washing over me, I noticed something else – his eyes were almond-shaped. I remembered reading that could be an indicator of Down’s syndrome, and when I pointed it out to the midwife, she agreed to make an appointment for us to see the paediatrician.
The next day my husband John and I went down to the special baby care unit, where a blood test confirmed what I thought. Although we were shocked, we didn’t feel sad – our baby was happy and healthy, and that’s all we could ask for. But the doctors treated us like we were grieving parents, and bombarded us with doom-filled pamphlets that only spoke about the hardest parts of having a baby with Down’s.
By the time we were discharged later that evening, I was feeling a little bewildered. But, back home, seeing how delighted the girls were to have James with them lifted my heart. To them, he was simply their perfect baby brother.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 12,2017-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S OWN.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 12,2017-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S OWN.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?