MOSAIC MOMENTS

As parents of children with special needs, one of the first things a parent asks when they learn about their child’s disability is, “What does this mean for their future?”

Visions of the unknown pass through the parent’s mind and often they see a life without adult relationships and those things that most adults take for granted that will automatically happen at one point or another.

As their child grows into an adult, most of the time they can look back to that day when they first received the diagnosis and realize that their fears were unfounded.

For those who have been following the More Alike Than Different campaign, you know that Austin Davenport asked Christi Hockel to marry him. In this century, marriage between two individuals with Down syndrome or mosaic Down syndrome is not uncommon.

The most known wedding was between Sujeet Desai and Carrie Burgeron. I am close friends with Sujeet’s mother, Sindoor and know that Sujeet and Carrie are very much in love.

Another well-known wedding last year was between Bernadette Resha and Josh Putman I had the opportunity to meet Bernadette more than once. She attended our 2005 conference and I met her and Josh when I was speaking at the NDSC Conference in Atlanta. Bernadette and Josh are such a great couple and I really enjoyed their company.

Christi’s mom, Judie and I are great friends and I had the honor to see her engagement announcement this morning that was clipped from their local paper. I wanted to include it here, but it didn’t work out for me! (not that computer savvy I guess!)

The announcement, to any outsider reading it, would be just another engagement announcement. However, to a parent of a child with Special Needs, this is an encouragement. To know that life does go on! Your child can accomplish many great things and “Happily Ever After” is one of them!

Christi and Austin are truly in love! Christi is a wonderful, outgoing woman. She is passionate about the things that matter to her in life and I can only imagine the great things she will accomplish throughout the rest of her life! However, when she talks about Austin, her eyes sparkle in a way that only other women can understand. I remember that moment when Glenn and I realized that we were in love. Christi has the same look I did when I first fell in love with Glenn! What a wonderful feeling to know that two people can feel that kind of unconditional love together!

Christi and Austin….. I wish you eternity!