“I love dogs”, “I like my job at McDonald’s”, “I like going to the cinema with my friend Kitty”, “I support Chelsea”, “I like James Bond”... ordinary opinions of ordinary people, not much different from you and me - with only one difference: all these people, captured in a special photo album by photographer R. Bailey, were born with one extra chromosome.

The nuclei of human cells contain 46 chromosomes - 23 pairs. Sometimes, during the process of meiosis - a special division leading to the formation of sex cells - one of the pairs does not separate, the result is an egg or sperm with not 23, but 24 chromosomes, and when it meets a cell of the opposite sex, the result is a zygote not with 46, but with 47 chromosomes. Why is this happening? No answer yet. But it’s definitely not because people drink, smoke, take drugs or are in an area of ​​radioactive contamination - such an anomaly occurs in about one embryo in 700 (children who are allowed to be born are slightly less - one in 1000). The only pattern noticed so far is that in women over 35 years of age the probability is slightly higher, but no one guarantees that this will not happen to a younger mother.

An extra chromosome causes a number of changes in the structure and functioning of the body. Some of them are visible to the naked eye: a flat face, a flat back of the head, an arched palate and decreased muscle tone, as a result of which the mouth may be slightly open, a shortened skull, an additional fold of skin on the palm, a short nose. One of the most noticeable signs is a fold of skin at the inner corner of the eye, which is somewhat reminiscent of the shape of the eyes of representatives of the Mongoloid race. Because of this symptom, the English doctor J.L. Down, who described this syndrome in 1862, called it “Mongolism.” This term - as well as "Mongolian idiocy" - was used until 1972, when, after many years of struggle, it was finally recognized that the pathology cannot be equated with racial characteristics, and the modern name - Down syndrome - was established.

This chromosomal anomaly is not limited to external signs - heart defects, strabismus, leukemia, hormonal disorders often go hand in hand with it, therefore, regular medical examinations by relevant specialists are mandatory. The immune system is quite weak, so a person can suffer from infectious diseases more often and more severely. Once upon a time, for these reasons, people with Down syndrome did not live long - but modern medicine allows them to live to at least 50 years. Unlike Down syndrome itself, all this is completely treatable. Sometimes Down syndrome is accompanied by hearing impairment - in this case, the help of an audiologist is necessary.

What frightens parents most is developmental delay. Such children begin to hold their heads only by three months, sit down by one year, and walk no earlier than two years. Such people lag behind both in mental development and in speech (the latter is explained not only by delayed mental development, but also by the special structure of the oral cavity and reduced muscle tone - so classes with a speech therapist are mandatory).

As for the mental retardation of people with Down syndrome, it is greatly exaggerated. A severe degree of it is observed only in a few, and in most cases we are talking about a moderate or mild degree of decline in intelligence. Of course, in this case, too, a severe form with a complete inability to adapt to independent life among people can be “organized” - for this it is necessary to separate the newborn from his parents and place him in a special closed institution... which is what they have been doing for many years, thereby supporting the myth of the absolute unteachability of children with Down syndrome and their inability to adapt socially.

Meanwhile, if such a child remains with his parents, if he is taught using special methods, then his development can proceed relatively successfully. Of course, he will not graduate from university (although such examples are known), but it is possible to develop the skills of self-service and life in society, just as such people are quite capable of mastering some professions.

People with Down syndrome are often called “sunshine children”, attributing to them increased smiling and constant presence in a good mood. This is not so - of course, mood swings are inherent in them just like all people, but they have some characteristic character traits: they are obedient, patient. What is absolutely not characteristic of them is aggressiveness.

What is the position of such people in society?

A. Hitler included people suffering from “Mongolism” in his T-4 eugenics program, also known as “Action – Death of Pity”. Many modern doctors fully agree with the Fuhrer in his fight for the purity of the human race: as soon as an examination of a pregnant woman reveals Down syndrome or such a diagnosis is made to an already born child, a massive psychological attack on the parents immediately begins - “Have an abortion / write a refusal, you are still young , give birth to another child – healthy, why do you need a disabled person,” etc. Often “good” relatives and friends get involved in the “processing” (a woman can also be intimidated by the fact that her husband will definitely leave her with such a child). It is not yet proposed to kill children who have already been born - but there are already “progressives” pushing the idea of ​​the so-called. “postnatal abortion”... Not all parents can withstand such psychological pressure - many go for an abortion or abandon their children. As a result, children end up in orphanages where they do not receive proper development, thereby supporting the myth about the complete unteachability and social inadaptability of people with Down syndrome, which frightens new parents... such a vicious circle!

People who have visited Western countries notice that there both children and adults with Down syndrome can be found in stores, on the streets, and anywhere, while we don’t seem to have them - not because in the West Such people are more often born, but because they are not isolated from society there. Not every Western experience is worthy of imitation, but this is exactly what can and should be adopted. Moreover, children with mild mental retardation, with proper development, are quite capable of attending mass kindergartens and studying in regular schools.

Is it possible to introduce inclusive education for children with Down syndrome in Russia today? Perhaps not - and the point here is not only that not all teachers know how to work with them. Bring such a child to a regular kindergarten - not only will his peers begin to terrorize him, but his parents will also overwhelm the director, and there will be a LOT of angry appeals: “Why THIS is studying with our children!” However, this is not the only manifestation of an inadequate attitude towards people with disabilities in general, and towards people with Down syndrome in particular. How the parents of such children are tormented by the unhealthy interest shown by almost every acquaintance (even casual ones) - for some reason everyone is extremely interested in finding out “what is it because of”, “can it be cured”, “did you know about this before birth” , and most importantly - “it was probably hard for you to find out about this?” Some also begin to express condolences... truly, encountering a disability - be it Down syndrome or something else - is a wonderful “test” of tact, politeness, and simply humanity.

During the papal audience, a girl with Down syndrome stood up from her seat and walked towards Francis. The guards wanted to send her back to her mother, but Dad invited her to sit next to her. He ended the audience holding the girl's hand.

Have you ever wondered why in Europe you see people with Down syndrome (DS) much more often than in Russia? They work there as cashiers and help in stores and gas stations. In Spain there is an absolutely amazing person, Pablo Pineda. Born with DS, he received a teaching diploma, a bachelor of arts degree, and a diploma in educational psychology. He became the first person in Europe with diabetes to receive a university education. He starred in the autobiographical film “Me Too” and received the “Best Actor” prize for it at Cannes in 1996. Here are ten more people with diabetes who have proven that barriers do not exist.

But if you don’t see such children among us, you don’t think that we are having fewer of them, right? Did you know that on average one in 700 children is born with diabetes? Do you know how many of these people you would see on a regular subway ride? It’s just that they are either sent to an orphanage (which is practically a sentence) or they sit at home. But the level of development of a society is determined precisely by how it treats the weakest - the elderly, the disabled, people with various types of disabilities.

My friend, the wonderful designer Sveta Nagaeva, has a son, Timur, with Down syndrome. The first screening showed the probability of having a child with this syndrome is 1:150. Less than one percent. It was scary. But she and her husband decided not to do a specialized test, since in any case they would not have had an abortion. Then they started searching the Internet for all the information about children with diabetes. And it became clear that this was not a sentence. That you can live with him and raise a wonderful child. It's hard. It's like conquering Mont Blanc. At the foot of the mountain they look at you with sympathy. You follow your own route, for some it is smooth, for others it is almost vertical. But every time you take your breath away when you once again reach the local peak. You make the pass, look around and realize that it was worth it. Even if it wasn’t always easy for you on the road, even if you cursed everything and everyone and this entire climb.

You will always ask yourself how your life would have turned out if you had not started climbing. And the higher you go, the richer and fuller you will feel. You will learn to live one day and a whole life. It's so easy, you just have to start.

But the worst thing is that people are afraid of people with Down syndrome. Because they don't know anything about them. Because they are used to living with people like everyone else. And Sveta decided to write a book about it.

A book about Chromosonya. Explain on your fingers how Down syndrome appears. And why are children with him called sunny children.

And also about the experience of the mother of a sunny child. Read
When people love each other

When the desired pregnancy finally occurs, it is a real holiday. After waiting for two lines on the test, future parents feel inspired and happy, but over time they also feel certain fears. In particular, one of them is feelings about

Many future parents often ask the question of why children with Down syndrome may be born? And are there ways to prevent this pathology?

Let's figure out who these “sunny” children are.

Congenital syndrome

First of all, it is necessary to understand that any congenital syndrome, including Down syndrome, is not a disease, and therefore its treatment is impossible. A syndrome is understood as the total number of a number of symptoms that are caused by various pathological changes in the body. A large number of congenital syndromes are hereditary, but Down syndrome stands out from this list, being an exception. It got its name thanks to the doctor who first described it in 1866 (John Langdon Down). How many chromosomes does Down have? More on this below.

What caused it?

This syndrome is caused by the tripling of the twenty-first chromosome. A person normally has twenty-three pairs of chromosomes, but in some cases a malfunction occurs, and instead of the twenty-first pair, three chromosomes appear. It is this same one, that is, the forty-seventh, that is the cause of this pathology. This fact was established only in 1959 by the scientist Jerome Lejeune.

People with Down syndrome are called “sun children.” Many people are interested in who they are. The genetic abnormality of having an extra chromosome sets them apart from others. It is not without reason that the term “sunny” is assigned to such children, since they are characterized by a special cheerfulness, they are very affectionate and at the same time obedient. But at the same time, they experience mental and physical developmental delays to a certain extent. Their IQ level ranges from twenty to seventy-four points, while most healthy adults have from ninety to one hundred and ten. Why are healthy parents born?

Causes of birth of children with Down syndrome

In the world, for every seven hundred to eight hundred children, there is one child with Down syndrome. Babies with this diagnosis are often abandoned in the maternity hospital; worldwide the number of such “refusers” is eighty-five percent. It is worth noting that in some countries it is not customary to abandon mentally retarded children, including those with Down syndrome. Thus, in Scandinavia, in principle, there are no such statistics, and in Europe and the USA they refuse only five percent. It is interesting that in these countries there is generally a practice of adopting “sunny” children. For example, in America, two hundred and fifty families are waiting in line to receive babies with Down syndrome.

We have already determined that “sunny” children (we explained who they are) have an extra chromosome. However, when is it formed? This anomaly appears mainly in the egg when it is located in the ovary. Due to some factors, its chromosomes do not diverge, and when this egg subsequently merges with a sperm, an “incorrect” zygote is formed, and then an embryo and fetus develop from it.

This can also happen due to genetic reasons, if all eggs/sperm or a certain number of them contain an extra chromosome from birth.

If we are talking about healthy people, then, for example, in the UK, one of the factors influencing a genetic error is considered to be the aging of the egg, which occurs along with the woman’s age. That is why special methods are being developed to promote egg rejuvenation.

Characteristics of “sunny” children

In terms of appearance, children with Down syndrome have the following characteristics:

• slanted eyes;
• wide and flat tongue;
• wide lips;
• rounded head shape;
• narrow forehead;
• earlobe fused;
• slightly shortened little finger;
• wider and shorter feet and hands compared to ordinary children.

How many years do people with Down syndrome live? Life expectancy is directly dependent on the severity of the syndrome and social conditions. If a person does not have heart disease, severe diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, or immunity disorders, then he can live up to 65 years.

Amazing character

"Sunny" children have an amazing and unique character. From a very early age they are distinguished by activity, restlessness, mischief and extraordinary love of love. They are always very cheerful, it is difficult to focus their attention on specific things. However, there are no complaints about their sleep or appetite. Parents may complain about something else: it is quite difficult to cope with such a child at a party or on the street due to his activity and constant demand for attention to himself; he is very noisy and restless. It is difficult to explain anything to a baby with trisomy 21. Habitual methods of upbringing are ineffective for such children; you cannot scold them, because a reverse reaction will follow: either they withdraw into themselves, or their behavior becomes even worse.

Can handle it

However, you can cope with any situation. With such a child, the most important thing is to be able to choose an approach to him. Irrepressible energy and mischief must be spent and used in the right way. This requires playing outdoor games as much as possible, being outside more often so that the child can run around more. There is no need to control him too much, prohibit many things or find fault with little things. One day, the young child’s energy will decrease a little, he will begin to listen to his parents more and begin to play educational, calm games.

If the necessary efforts are made, then “sunny” children can even go to a simple kindergarten and school, having previously prepared in a specially designed correctional school. Some even receive vocational education. Perhaps the most important thing is to give them a sufficient amount of warmth, love, affection and care in childhood. They are very loving and strongly attached to their parents. Without this they will not be able to survive in the literal sense of the word. How many chromosomes does Down have are described above.

Who can have “sunny” children?

Scientists still cannot find the reasons that provoke a failure in genetics and cause the development of Down syndrome. It is believed that this occurs due to absolute randomness. A child with such a syndrome can be born regardless of the lifestyle his parents lead, although many people are often convinced that such a pathology is the result of unacceptable behavior of the mother during pregnancy. In reality, everything is different.

The likelihood of having a child with Down syndrome does not decrease even in a family whose members adhere to the principles of an exclusively healthy lifestyle. That is why the only answer to the question of why such children are born to normal parents is this: an accidental genetic failure occurred. Neither the mother nor the father is to blame for the appearance of this pathology. Now we know why children with Down syndrome are called sunny.

Probability

It is worth noting that children with Down syndrome are still rarely born to healthy parents. However, there are groups of people who are at greater risk than others.

A “sunny” child is most likely to appear:

• those parents whose age exceeds forty-five years for the father and thirty-five for the mother;
• if there is one of the parents of children with Down syndrome;
• marriage between close relatives. Diagnosis of Down syndrome during pregnancy is now carried out constantly.

Of greatest interest is the fact that in a healthy marriage, completely healthy parents may have a “sunny” child due to the influence of their age. What is this connected with? The fact is that before the age of twenty-five, a woman can give birth to a child with this deviation with a probability of 1:1400. Before the age of thirty, this can happen to one woman in a thousand. At thirty-five there is a sharp increase in this risk to 1:350, after forty-two years - 1:60, and, finally, after forty-nine years - to 1:12.

Judging by statistics, eighty percent of children with this pathology are born to mothers who have not reached the thirty-year mark. However, this is explained by the fact that more women give birth before thirty than after.

Increasing age of women in labor

Currently, there is a tendency to increase the age of women in labor. But we must remember that even if a woman looks great at thirty-five and is actively engaged in her own career, her biological age will still work against her. Nowadays, it’s rare for anyone to look their age, since the female half of the population has learned to take very good care of themselves. It is clear that this particular time is the most suitable for leading an exciting, active, eventful life, traveling, building a career, starting a relationship, loving. However, genetic material, as well as female reproductive cells, steadily ages after a woman reaches the age of twenty-five. In addition, nature provides that over time, a woman’s ability to conceive and give birth decreases.

It is worth noting that the risk of having a child with disabilities is high not only in this category of mothers, but also in very young mothers who have not yet turned sixteen years old.

The development of Down syndrome is not influenced by the gender of the child, and this pathology is equally likely to occur in both girls and boys. However, modern science can predict the birth of a child with such a syndrome in the womb, when there is a choice: leave it or get rid of the pregnancy, and the parents can make the decision themselves.

We figured out who these “sunny” children are.

Celebrities

There is an opinion that people with Down syndrome cannot study, work, or achieve success in life. But this opinion is wrong. Among the “children of the sun” there are many talented actors, artists, athletes and teachers. Some celebrities with Down syndrome are featured below.

World famous Spanish actor and teacher. Pascal Duquenne is a theater and film actor. The paintings of the American artist with Down syndrome Raymond Hu delight connoisseurs. Masha Langovaya is a Russian athlete who became a world champion in swimming.

The birth of a special child always becomes a real test for parents, and this is completely natural. Every mother wants to have a healthy baby, but we cannot always influence our lives. Parents of children with Down syndrome, as well as children with other diseases, invariably ask the question: “Why do we need this?” This question will never be answered, because it cannot exist in principle. It is not known why the baby develops an extra chromosome. It happened, and no one is to blame for it. But in fact, the test for parents is not the birth of a sunny child itself, but the attitude of society towards special children. By the way, do you know why Downyats are called solar children? Because they are open to people and always smile. Having given such babies an extra chromosome, nature also gave them a heart created for love. Perhaps in order to teach love to other people too...

Birth of a child with Down syndrome

All parents of children with Down syndrome experience...

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Sunny child

At forty-six, I met her, a woman who amazed me. A month and a half later she became my wife.

Probably you have to pay for everything in life, both for good and for evil... Then events happened that brought us both great joy and incredible trials...
The first year of our life together, we rather got to know each other. I can’t say that family life was easy. But all the difficulties were covered by the novelty of feelings of marital love, responsibility and... the expectation of procreation. We really wanted a child.

A little more than a year passed in my status as a married man, when a call rang in my office that radically changed our lives, and our attitude towards this life. Through tears, my wife told me about the gynecologist’s verdict:
“She said... that I have a dead fetus... I need to do a “cleaning”.”
I didn’t feel any pain, rather hopelessness and dullness. But something had to be done. We decided to go to...

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Have you ever wondered why children with Down syndrome are called “sunny children”?
Because these are very kind, gentle children who are constantly smiling and mischievous with their smile. Even with such a serious illness, they still shine like the sun, because they don’t understand much. They have their own world. Inner world. But, unfortunately, our outside world is completely unsuited for the life of such children. And even in Hungary, where Valentina lives with her sunny boy and her family, nothing is suitable either. The same questions: “Or maybe you will give up the child in the maternity hospital,” the same sympathetic looks and words from those who don’t care deep down, the same problems. Valentina fought for the life of her child, rejoicing at every move, every smile, every step and new skill. Yes, undoubtedly, all of the above is happiness for any mother, but for the mother of a child with disabilities, perhaps this joy is tripled. There is no doubt that children with the syndrome...

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“I love dogs”, “I like my job at McDonald’s”, “I like going to the cinema with my friend Kitty”, “I support Chelsea”, “I like James Bond”... ordinary opinions of ordinary people, not much different from you and me - with only one difference: all these people, captured in a special photo album by photographer R. Bailey, were born with one extra chromosome.

The nuclei of human cells contain 46 chromosomes - 23 pairs. Sometimes, during the process of meiosis - a special division leading to the formation of sex cells - one of the pairs does not separate, the result is an egg or sperm with not 23, but 24 chromosomes, and when it meets a cell of the opposite sex, the result is a zygote not with 46, but with 47 chromosomes. Why is this happening? No answer yet. But it’s definitely not because people drink, smoke, take drugs or are in an area of ​​radioactive contamination - such an anomaly occurs in about one embryo out of 700 (children who are allowed to be born are slightly less - one...

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A sunny smile, a surprised look from slanted eyes, a button nose and clumsy fingers... Children with Down syndrome are subtly similar to each other. In society, they are treated with caution at best, and sometimes they cast sidelong glances at their parents, suspecting them of “indecent” behavior during pregnancy. However, this is not at all true.

Why is a child born with Down syndrome? The extra 21st chromosome (in some cases its additional section) is to blame for everything. But this is absolutely no fault of the parents. Circumstances just happened and the baby had 47 chromosomes instead of 46. Therefore, a child with Down syndrome can be born into any family - both marginal and the most correct. Environmental factors also do not have any effect on the likelihood of this syndrome occurring. The only thing doctors warn about is that the likelihood of having a sunny baby increases as the mother’s age increases. According to some reports, dad's age also has...

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Why me? Why is this happening to me? Not with Masha, who spent her entire pregnancy hanging out in clubs, smoking and drinking. And with me.

The one who planned carefully, prepared for the birth of a child. I followed the doctor’s orders for all nine months. I was on a diet. Passed examinations. Nobody said anything. I didn't see it. Didn't warn. The truth was revealed after the birth.

- You, mother, have a sick child. With Down syndrome. What will you do?

The neonatologist’s question rang in my ears for a long time. I couldn't find the answer. I just sobbed bitterly.

Dilemma

Thousands of similar stories have been written by mothers of special children. You read and cry with them. Especially when you carry a baby under your heart.

When you realize that every woman can face a difficult choice. Give birth or have an abortion, keep a child with Down syndrome or abandon him in an orphanage, raise him in a family or in special institutions for mentally retarded children?

Or maybe just...

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“The point is not to not feel sorrow,
but it is grateful to bear it.”
Venerable Macarius of Optina

Sunny children - this name has long been firmly attached to kids who are not much different from all other children on the planet.

They just smile more often, they are sweet and kind, it’s just that those around them speak very warmly about them, they just have Down syndrome.

March 21 marked the fourth International Day of People with Down Syndrome. For what? Not just to help these people. Very often they take excellent care of themselves.

Rather, to help society become kinder, learn understanding and empathy. In order to remove fears and doubts regarding such children, caused, unfortunately, by elementary ignorance, and sometimes by indifference.

Pain about your neighbor

Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets believed that by caring for special children, giving up some pleasures for this and...

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Causes of Down syndrome

For a long time, people did not understand why children with pathology are born to healthy parents. For the first time, researcher John Langdon Down became interested in this phenomenon, after whom the syndrome was named. Then the French scientist Jerome Lejeune began studying the deviation, explaining that the anomaly develops due to an accidental genetic failure during conception. As a result, the embryo develops an extra 47th chromosome (instead of the normal 46). Its presence negatively affects the development of the fetus.

There is still no clear understanding of what exactly causes this violation. Doctors say the main risk factor is the age of the couple. If a woman decides to become a mother after 35 years or a man decides to become a father at 45, then the chance of a pathology occurring in the embryo is 1 in 100. The older the parents, the higher the likelihood of conceiving a child with an anomaly.

In addition, doctors add to the list of reasons:

Heredity (similar...

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10

On March 21, the world annually celebrates World Down Syndrome Day. It was first held in 2006.

Podrobnosti.ua has collected 10 facts about “sunny people,” as they are also commonly called for their friendliness, openness and naivety.

1. Down syndrome is not a disease, but a genetic abnormality caused by the presence in human cells of an additional, third chromosome in pair 21 (21/3). What else is determined by your genetic makeup? The color of your eyes, the color of your hair, or how tall you are.

2. The birth of a child with this syndrome does not depend on the parents’ lifestyle, health status, bad habits, nutrition, wealth, education, religious beliefs, or nationality. 80% of these children are born to young parents (under 35 years of age).

3. Approximately every 700th baby in the world has Down syndrome. About 450 such children are born in Ukraine every year.

4. “Sunny children” - this is what people with Down syndrome are called for their friendliness, openness...

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DEDICATED to my daughter Polina - with gratitude for choosing me.
The fact that it didn’t kill us will still regret that it didn’t do it when there was such an opportunity :)

Preface

The birth of a baby with Down syndrome is always associated with many questions that his parents have and to which they, the parents, strive to get answers in the hope of imagining the future of the family where a special child is growing up, and the future of the child himself.
It’s good when there are people who are professionally involved in the development of special children and can help in this difficult situation: discuss issues that concern parents, help organize a developmental environment for the child, show and tell what and how can be done to contribute to the successful advancement of the child. However, the experience of the Downside Up Early Help Center, which has been working with families raising children with Down syndrome of early and preschool age for more than ten years, shows that...

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12

My name is Artem!

Let's get acquainted)))

My name is Artem!!! I am 4 years old. I have a dad and a mom. I also have three sisters and an older brother. I have a four-legged friend - Labrador Retriever Dana. I also have an extra chromosome. I don’t know what this means yet, but everyone loves me, and I’m the happiest boy on earth)))

Throw away all prejudices and take a fresh look at people with Down syndrome. Perhaps these facts, collected by Lena Shunko and confirmed by us, parents of sunny children, will help you understand and accept these amazing and unique people)

Down syndrome is not a disease (you cannot get it), but a genetic abnormality caused by the presence in human cells of an additional, third chromosome in pair 21 (21/3). What else is determined by your genetic makeup? The color of your eyes, the color of your hair, or how tall you are. The birth of a child with this syndrome does not depend on the parents’ lifestyle, health status, bad habits, nutrition,...

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There are children who are not like others - they were born special: with an extra chromosome or a worldview completely different from their usual one. Such children are in no way a grief, a death sentence or a punishment for their parents. They are called light or sunny because they smile more often than others. They are able to love and live life to the fullest, although they were born completely unsuited for this world. Parents of special children need to find a special approach and then they will follow a different, special path in their lives.

The statistics are inexorable - Down syndrome occurs in every 700th child in the world, and autism occurs in one in 88 children.

A mother who finds out that her child is not like others has a hard time deciding what to do next. Many people believe that they will have to give up their life if the baby is born with a genetic pathology. But star parents, who have the opportunity to declare their situation publicly, do everything possible to prove that a special child is a full-fledged member of society and deserves love.

The loudest statements about her “different” motherhood were made by actress and singer Evelina Bledans, who in 2012 gave birth to her second son, Semyon. While still in utero, the boy was diagnosed with Down syndrome and fused toes on his left foot, but mom and dad wanted him to be born, in any case.

“People are intimidated by prejudices, and therefore 85% of parents are afraid of additional difficulties in raising a child who is not like everyone else,” says Evelina.

She decided to destroy the existing stereotype that children with genetic disorders should be kept silent, and every day she proves to all parents that a baby, no matter what it is, is a great happiness.

“This page was created for parents who are about to have or have already given birth to such children. I started it with the goal of socializing people with Down syndrome. I wanted to explain that there is no need to be afraid of this diagnosis – such people need to be treated with loyalty.”

Evelina regularly writes about her son Semyon, his development, gives all sorts of recommendations, restores parents’ faith in themselves and gives them a positive attitude.

Among celebrities, Evelina is not the only one raising a special child. Lolita Milyavskaya also has a sunny daughter - at birth, Eva was diagnosed with Down syndrome, but later it was changed to autism - an innate psychological isolation. Lolita does not hide the fact that her child, until he was 4 years old, did not speak at all, had poor vision and had many health problems. However, the singer always praised her daughter, and maternal love worked a miracle - now Eva is 16 years old and she goes to school, where she practically does not differ in behavior and level of development from her peers.

The daughter of the famous director Fyodor Bondarchuk, Varvara, was also born with Down syndrome. The parents do not consider the girl sick, but call her special. They say the diagnosis only strengthened their family.

Composer Konstantin Meladze has three children from his first marriage. The youngest of them, Valery, suffers from a rare form of autism. The boy lives in his own special world and practically does not communicate with people. Yana, Valery’s mother and ex-wife of the musician, first spoke about her son’s illness after her divorce from Konstantin.

“Doctors diagnosed Valera with autism. Treatment of this disease in all countries of the world is very expensive, including Ukraine. No, this is not a sentence, this is an execution, after which you were left to live. This is a serious disease that has no cure yet, but it can be corrected. I'm talking about severe autism. Such children can be taught. I think that parents who are faced with a similar problem are familiar with the feeling of fear, helplessness in the face of grief, and shame. Our society does not accept or recognize “others.” But when the child has his first successes, hope and faith awaken - and then a new starting point for genuine victories and bright pride in his child begins. Parents do not need to be ashamed or blame themselves. Don't think that you might have done something wrong. When you understand what responsible mission you are performing in your child’s life, you will realize the value or even pricelessness of your role.”

At the age of three, Sylvester Stallone's son was diagnosed with autism. Little Sergio had difficulty adapting to the world around him: he could not establish contact even with his loved ones, not to mention the rest of those around him. Sergio’s mother was actively involved with the child and even managed to open a research center for autistic children.

Now Sergio is 35 years old, he has never left his world - he lives quietly and alone. His father visits him, brings him medicine and is still indignant: “I have enough money and opportunities, but I can’t help him in any way.”

American singer Toni Braxton also faced the problem of autism in her child. She felt that something was wrong with her child when he was not yet a year old. The singer put a lot of effort into the boy’s development, and it was not in vain - he was able to go to school with ordinary children.

A similar fate has not escaped many celebrities, and they all say that genetic abnormalities are not a death sentence. As confirmation, here are the 10 most famous people with Down syndrome and autism who were able to achieve success in what they loved.

These people prove that everyone has a chance for a bright future, you just need to see it. And never give up, no matter how many chromosomes you have. Love for special, “sunny” children can work wonders. And I want to believe that in the near future “special” people who have achieved enormous success will appear in our country.

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badmama.com.ua

Sunny children. Truth and myths

Babies with Down syndrome are called “sunny” children. They are the ones who increase the percentage of kindness in our world. And such children are also called children of the eighth day. This name is explained by such a beautiful story: God created the world in six days, and on the seventh He rested. But on the eighth day, God created special children to test the hearts of all other people.

Truths and myths about children with Down syndrome

Myth: Down syndrome is a rare genetic disorder.

Truth: Down syndrome is by far the most common genetic disorder. Every year, about 5,000 children are born with Down syndrome, which is approximately one in 600 to 800 newborns.

Myth: Most children with Down syndrome are born to older parents.

Truth: As parents age, the likelihood of having a child with a similar syndrome actually increases, but younger mothers give birth more often, and therefore the birth statistics of children with Down syndrome are higher.

Myth: Children with Down syndrome have learning difficulties

Truth: In children with Down syndrome, IQ varies from 20 to 75 and directly depends on the special program and the volume of these activities. The intelligence level of these children is low, but despite this, they are very attentive, obedient and patient when learning.

Myth: Society treats people with Down syndrome as “outcasts”

Truth: Many other countries have developed special social programs for children with Down syndrome. And at the same time, they are allowed to live like ordinary people, they study in secondary schools and institutes, and they are not made outcasts.

Myth: An adult with Down syndrome is unable to work.

Truth: Most young people with Down syndrome finish school and then receive vocational training, which allows them to get a job.

Myth: A person with Down syndrome is unable to form close relationships leading to marriage.

Truth: People with Down syndrome are very sensitive and open to contact with others, so their likelihood of marriage is very high, and personal relationships of people with Down syndrome are very loving and supportive.

Yes, children with Down syndrome are a test for their parents, loved ones and themselves, but these children are born with love for us, with trust in the world... It’s not for nothing that a child born with Down syndrome is called “sunny”... So, what is he guilty of? Why does society close all opportunities for development to him, the happiness of being among people? Is this child missing something? No! Quite the contrary! He has something that others don't have - an extra chromosome that makes him special.

Babies with Down syndrome are called “sunny” children. They are the ones who increase the percentage of kindness in our world. And such children are also called children of the eighth day. This name is explained by such a beautiful story: God created the world in six days, and on the seventh He rested. But on the eighth day, God created special children to test the hearts of all other people

Achievements of people with Down syndrome

Pascal Duquesne, actor. In 1997 he received the main prize for performing the best male role at the Cannes Film Festival.

In Moscow there is the “Theater of the Simple-minded,” in which the majority of actors have Down syndrome.

Pablo Pineda. Became the first person with Down syndrome to receive higher education.

Andrey Vostrikov. A resident of Voronezh, who became the absolute European champion in artistic gymnastics.

Miguel Thomasin. Drummer of the Argentine band Reynols.

American Sajit Desai. Plays 6 instruments!

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Sunny children

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Sunny children

Every 700th baby in the world, according to statistics from the World Health Organization, is born with Down syndrome. This ratio is the same in different countries, climate zones and social strata. A genetic malfunction in a child occurs regardless of the lifestyle of his parents, their health, financial situation, habits and education. Society has formed a lot of prejudices associated with this disease. Diagnosis is often used as a derogatory slur. Due to the lack of reliable information, thousands of families are forced to fight for a decent future for their children, experiencing misunderstanding and hostility from others. “Open Asia Online” today, on International Children’s Day, will talk about Kazakhstanis who firmly believe that Down syndrome is not a death sentence.

TV presenter Marat Sadykov, well-known in Central Asia, has repeatedly talked on air about disabled children, but even in his worst nightmare he could not imagine that he himself would ever face this problem. However, when his wife gave birth to a son, the couple were informed that the child had Down syndrome.

This news came as a real shock, and during a sleepless night, when his thoughts were confused, the future father thought about leaving the baby in the maternity hospital. He admits that this was due to ignorance of the problem and complete uncertainty of how to live with it. And when I saw the newborn Damir, this thought seemed to disappear. He says it was very embarrassing, painful and insulting. The guy pulled himself together and helped his wife Alla cope with the shock. Marat and Alla dote on their Damir. His older sister Milana also loves the boy. The child is taken to the pool, where he happily splashes in the water with the same special children. And parents of children communicate in a specially created community on social networks. They say that they understood the main thing: they are not alone.

Arina Egorova is only 24 years old. She is raising her Masha alone after her husband left. I learned about my daughter’s diagnosis after birth, but I didn’t even think about giving up the child.

If such a child has already been born, there is no need to abandon him; on the contrary, you need to make every effort to ensure that he grows up in the family, Arina is sure. - Of course, this is hard to accept at first. This is a shock for the whole family and questions: why, why me? In fact, you need to think not “why”, but “why” was such a child born? So that we learn to love, so that we are more tolerant, so that we can enjoy the little things.

Alena Kim brought her one-year-old daughter Amina to the Kenes center, where the same special children are raised. The first positive changes in her behavior and mood were noticeable within a month, and six months later the girl learned to dance and eat independently, deftly using a spoon.

She began to repeat the movements when we dance,” Alena is proud. “We’re learning to eat, somehow she didn’t want to go home, but here, looking at the other kids, she started doing the same.” This is also imitation. “Kenes” means “advice” Center for disabled children “Kenes” is a place where parents meet, communicate and teach their special children. Down syndrome is often accompanied by concomitant diseases, and the earlier the child is treated, the greater the chance of overcoming these ailments.

For more than 20 years, this center has been led by Mayra Suleeva. In Kazakhstan, she is considered a leading specialist in working with children suffering from Down syndrome. Having raised her own children, she adopted a girl, Alina, who was given a disappointing diagnosis. She admits that she then decided: if she herself cannot raise a child with Down syndrome, then how will she help others? Myra is sure: many parents simply do not know that a diagnosis is not a death sentence at all. These children can achieve great heights, and such a child cannot be abandoned.

Trauma for a child, and it cannot be compared with anything at all, and, probably, no war can be as traumatic as the refusal of one’s own parents,” states Mayra Suleeva. - It is a misconception when they think that special children do not understand this. A child, while still in the womb, understands whether he is wanted or unwanted, and even more so understands when he is abandoned.

90% are refuseniks

The head doctor of the Children's Home, Latipa Kozhamkulova, shows little Ersain, who was put back on his feet through several operations. But in the maternity hospital, where his mother abandoned him, the doctors unanimously insisted that the child would not live. Little Maryam is also cared for here. Her father, having learned that the girl was disabled, blamed his wife for this and left the family. The mother could not raise her daughter alone and sent her to an orphanage. 5-year-old Maksat was also abandoned. The baby turned out to be smart: he learned to speak, draw and dance. The teachers call him their pride.

There are many similar examples, teachers say. In 9 cases out of 10, parents abandon children with Down syndrome. But if they knew that it was possible and necessary to fight, there would probably be fewer refusals. Our heroes have to work hard to support, raise and educate a sick child. But they are all sure that at one time they made the only right decision, leaving the baby in the family. And all this because they knew: they were not alone. Today, a fund has been created in Kazakhstan that unites parents of special children. By their example, such families prove that when you love, you can find a way out of any situation. The main thing is to feel that you are not alone.

All these stories formed the basis of one of the parts of the “Heroes Are Nearby” project. It was launched by the Internews organization in Central Asia. As part of the project, television companies from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan will present a series of portrait special reports telling about civil activists. You can watch a film about children with Down syndrome here.

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