Down's syndrome

Soul words By Yuji's mother

I was depressed when I received the notice.

But I was depressed just that time. Because I know the child of down syndrome is cute by playing with the child of down syndrome who is the child of my friend. "Down syndrome" I hate this word. I decided to grow Yuji without prejudice. I can grow him usually, because he has no complication. I taught Yuji everything eagerly from he was the baby. I taught the number, the character, and the addition. Yuji studied eagerly too. Although he can understand easily.

When he graduated the day-care center, and would go on to the elementary school, down syndrome is the higher hurdle. Although he could read the character and add a little, I was suggested that I let him go to the supported school. "The supported school"... it was the choice I didn't expected. I thought that I grew him usually, and he would go to the normal school usually. When I consulted my husband, I cried unconsciously. "He is down syndrome, so go to the supported school." I consulted crying. My husband was going to let Yuji go to the normal school too, so he also was shocked.

Then it started that Yuji, my husband, and I negotiated with the chairman of the normal school. "We want Yuji to go to the normal class! He can understand character and addition!" I talked eagerly as much as possible. My husband talked earnestly too. ...After all, it was decided that Yuji would go to the supported class in the normal school. We ware grad, because Yuji could have a memory to go to the same school with his brother, although it was the support class. The decision was by Yuji's words. The words that Yuji said, although he was quiet by then. "I understand my parents want me to go to the normal school! I want to answer their dream!" For these words, I and my husband and also the chairman wept. I just looked at Yuji to say his thought very clearly at first, and I surprised that he used very difficult words. As if he was possessed or an angel went down, his words was such a mysterious. The soul words, which was such an expression.

I think that supported class is better for his life. Yuji goes to the school cheerfully because of low loads. Yuji goes to the same school with his brother, and plays with his friend after school. We spend very full life. I can't forget the Yuji's words at the time. "I want to answer their dream." The dream is answered by you! I love all behavior of Yuji. Although he is clumsy and he uses chopsticks strange, studies hard and plays with his friends and also answers our dream. It is unexpected he has been a good son.

When it took one year from the admission, we met the chairman again in order to check his behavior. Yuji doesn't keep still. Although I worried about that, the meeting is finished, and Yuji accepted to go to the supported class at next year. The end of the meeting, Yuji's soul words came again. "All person has a worry! I have a worry too! Because I am down syndrome! I let people forget the worry! I can do that! I have the power!" We wept again. Like an angel, he is tender. I believe the soul words. Yuji has the soul words. I maybe treat Yuji specially and unconsciously. Is that why he is down syndrome? I don't know, but he is mysterious. I hope that he is a good boy who heals the persons around him.

Welcome By Masaaki's mother

I hand out my poems and episodes at the down syndrome meeting. My son, Masaaki is ten years old. In particular, the parents who have young child are grad to read my poems and episodes. Many parent hope to get the back number, so I up to the web site. The reason starting this activity was the Masaaki's birth, but now I do that for the other parents. "You are not alone." "Although you have much trouble, it will be the good memory." "The growing is nearly the same compared to the normal child." And so on, I send much message. All of them are that I found out.

I remember that I went to go to the meeting at the first time. Then the meeting was small, so there are just five children (now, about twenty). I worried much till going to the meeting. I blamed myself because I bore the baby of down syndrome. He is different to the other children, and he is just the unusual. When I worried such a thing, the health nurse came and said about the meeting. "Do go to there", she said. I think now that she persuaded me because I worried much. I thank her very much. I was tense very much when I went to the meeting at first time. I felt that I would go to the special spot. Then at the moment that I entered the room, the boy named Taichi who was ten years old met us. "Oh, he is like Masaaki", that is the first impression. Mr.Taichi said, "New baby isn't it?" and he went to his mother. His mother was very mild, and she said at the first, "Welcome!" "I hear you worry very much. But it's OK. All children here are all down syndrome. They enjoy playing every week. You don't need to worry. It's OK! OK! OK!" Then I wept unconsciously. "It's OK...Masaaki and I are not alone. There will be good future for Masaaki, surely." I felt so. Taichi's mother started this meeting at first. It was the highly hurdle at then. I feel that her effort was very much. Such a mother said to me at first, "Welcome". I felt great emotion. I can remember the word strongly. "What a stupid word it was." Then I felt so, but now I use the same word. Because I feel "Welcome" from the bottom of my heart.

In the meeting, we gather once a week and let the children play together. The children who are various ages gather, and they grow with give and take. There are various children. For example, the baby, the schoolchild, the children who go to the supported school, and adult...But there is not the figure of Mr.Taichi. Mr.Taichi went to the heaven at just one year ago. But his mother exercises the leadership at the meeting even now. I am moved for her. In fact, the reason that I have written the poems and episodes was begged from her. I hear that she thought my worry was deeply, so if I wrote the poems and episodes, maybe I could get rid of my worry. The thought really correct. Every I wrote poems and episodes, my worry is cleared. Before anything else, I am moved by the impression from everyone who read my poems and episodes.

I feel that the entire meeting is destiny. I hope that I am the person who can encourage around me. I want to be like Taichi's mother. My hope will spread.

A messenger of the happy god By Yuuki's mother

When Yuuki was born and it was cleared he was down syndrome, the great- grandfather cried. The tear of him, I looked at first. I blamed myself for that the baby was down syndrome. It was the difficult start. I remember the great- grandfather said crying, "He is a messenger of the happy god." He said many time as if he believed that himself.

Yuuki is eight years old now. The great- grandfather went to the heaven last year. He was eighty-eight years old. He worried about Yuuki just at the last life. His last word was, "Yuuki is a messenger of the happy god". He continued to say so after Yuuki's birth.

I can't think so. Yuuki has the complication of the heart, and he was hospitalized several times. I was almost given up. I was hard because he was the first baby for me, so it's the first experience to grow the baby.

But I think I was supported by not only my husband but also Yuuki. Although it's strange that the baby supported me, I am convinced. Yuuki is crying suddenly sometimes, but he smiles by some chance, so his smile let me brave often.

Yuuki cried most hardly when the great- grandfather was died. I felt he didn't understand the death, but he could. Yuuki couldn't release his coffin. Attendants ware crying hard. Yuuki resisted hard against his death, although Yuuki was just young child. When the great- grandfather was alive, he taught many things for Yuuki. The card game, Japanese chess, the gulf toy, and going to plant collecting in the woods...he grew Yuuki through these friendships. There are grate friendships between Yuuki and his great- grandfather. I was impressed the word of the great- grandfather, "If you have hard friendship with Yuuki, Yuuki's sadness will be much when you die." The great- grandfather predicted at that time. But he loved Yuuki very much. I thank him frankly. Yuuki's behavior is really family-love when his great- grandfather died. The death is sad. He grew Yuuki to be able to understand that. He grew Yuuki to know the sadness of death. "Yuuki is a messenger of the happy god" ...I remember till now. The last word of the great- grandfather. Yuuki is really the messenger of the happy god. I feel the memory that although there ware painful things, much happiness was more. It's the same now. The grandfather plays with Yuuki instead of the great- grandfather now. The grandmother says, "If you have hard friendship with Yuuki, Yuuki's sadness will be much when you die" ...it's the same in the case of the great- grandfather. But he loves Yuuki very much. "What a cute grandchild Yuuki is!" the grandfather plays with Yuuki saying so. For Yuuki's presence, the great- grandfather, the great- grandfather, the grandfather, the grandmother, my husband, and I are all happy. All happiness owe to Yuuki. I am happy, so the sadness when Yuuki was born is the good memory. If there are the family that are depressed by the baby of down syndrome birth, I want to say, "The baby is a messenger of the happy god"...although you feel painful, but the time has come thinking so. Surely.

Husband By Yukie's mother

I lost my husband by traffic accident when I was eight months pregnant.

And the born baby, Yukie was down syndrome.

I just was crying and was completely discouraged. But my parents, my husband's parents, and Nanami who is the sister of Yukie encouraged. "Don't be pessimistic of. I support with all my might"...the words my father said. Nanami should be depressed because of lost her father, but she said, "Yukie is cute. I can accept her handicapped. Please be with spirit."...Nanami who was just seven years old encouraged me. After that, I feel how Nanami's state of mind was. She is really tough. Because the education of my husband is better.

I have a grudge against the god. Why do the god encounter us many difficulties? Yukie has the complication of her heart. I felt very long till that Yukie left the hospital.

After she left the hospital, we spend at my parent's house. I remember that I felt at ease gradually. I felt the warm of my parents again. Nanami must change the school just after the admission. But Nanami said, "Changing the school is OK. I look forward to live at your parent's house"...she told a lie for me. At that time, She was ready to cry with the deep red eyes. I am sorry for Nanami because she must say good-bye to her friends. I wept unconsciously because she was very tough. We were crying and cry.

Before long, the happiness came to our life. Kazuo's mother who met at the down syndrome meeting rescued us. She is the career woman, although her child, Mr.Kazuo is down syndrome. And, she is a single mother. Although her husband is alive, she doesn't keep in touch with him, so the situation is near me. She is very passionate. In fact, this meeting is realized by my husband's parents. They researched the down syndrome meeting, and made a choice the meeting that there was the person who was near me. I cried for their warm. I thank my husband really. He supports us even, although he is the heaven. He is the wonderful husband even now.

Fortunately Nanami gets used to the new school, and she makes many friends. She has friends over often. She invites Yukie for her friends. "Hallo! She is my sister, Yukie! She has down syndrome, but please make friends with her!"...Her friends are generous. "We don't care about such a handicap. She is very cute." Her friends play with Yukie saying so.

I feel that the situation out of gear will be meshed gradually. I am full from Kazuo's mother, and Nanami is full from friends. And my husband's parents encourage us sometimes. Yukie is cheerfully too. Her complication has not been needed to operate, so I am relieved.

I'm happy now. I want to enjoy with my husband. My husband often says, "Stick to it!" in my dream. I feel Yukie's complication is good for his power. Even he died, he is great influential even now. Nanami weep sometimes. She doesn't cry in front of me, but at her room. She was looked like extremely lonesome sometimes. She cried without her voice. I cried every time looking at crying Nanami. I pray to my husband for our happiness. I can just pray. My husband is a great god. We depend on him at last.

I feel sometimes, "If he is alive, how does our life?"

In the middle of happiness By Keita's mother

My son, Keita is down syndrome.

I was noticed that he is down syndrome when he was born.

"I am ashamed to show my face to the world"...the father of my husband said then. He plays the leading role at our family, so we can't go against him. Keita is forbidden to play out of home by him, although Keita is five years old.

"How old his thought is." I think many persons feel so, but I only go to the meeting of down syndrome and consult that, then I understand these prejudices are unexpectedly much. But I can't accept to forbid playing out of home. So, I play with Keita at the park in the night at his unguarded moment. It's a little resistance. I worry that Keita has no friend.

Such a daily life, Keita said to his grandfather, "I want to have a friend." Keita resisted courageously. Although he was five years old, Keita was against his grandfather who said, "I am ashamed to show my face to the world". I wept a little.

"How about making Keita to go to the down syndrome meeting?" The grandmother said. Usually, she was not against him, but she surely said so. I cried hard by listening the words. "Thank you, mother." I said so, and she continued, "No one isn't blamable. Down syndrome is OK, isn't it? I'm not ashamed. I think that Keita want to make friends alike for the other children, and it's too pitiful to play at the park in the night." I proved then that she knew playing at the park. "I understand." The grandfather answered. I was surprised that he knew playing at the park and accepted that, so I was moved very much.

"It's OK, going to the meeting." He said with heavy mouth.

"Thanks." Keita answered.

From then, Keita became the active boy with his friends like a fish with the water. He got along on with friends at the meeting.

Keita speaks the topic of his friends at home. I am really grad to hear that.

"How does the meeting?" The grandfather asked to me. So I explain that. "Next go to the meeting with me." He said so.

"I am pleased!" I answered.

At the first meeting with him, children of down syndrome including Keita danced cheerfully. "Are all down syndrome?" He asked to me with a surprise. "Yes." I answered. Then he twittered, "They are the same to the normal children." Keita was moved because his grandfather came and danced very hard. And when the dancing time ended, Keita pointed to the grandfather and said happily, "That's my grandfather!" His friends said, "It's good. I want my grandfather to come." The grandfather was grad very much. I have not looked at his such a grad face. Then we played at the park, and came back at home. When we ware at home, grandfather spoke one after another. He was grad to say the impression of the meeting. I felt we ware in the middle of happiness.

Menstruation By Rika's mother

My daughter who is eighteen years old, Rika is down syndrome.

I would like to write about "Menstruation".

The first menstruation came when she was fifteen years old. Then she was surprised hardly. "Mother! I am bleeding from my anus"! She reported so in a flurry. She could not understand, although she learned at the health education and I taught for her. So I let her know about a menstruation again, and she can understand. Usually in Japan, we cook red rice with the joy, so I cooked red rice, but we ware without the joy. "Another hardship has come," we thought then. Now I think we let her be sad. Although she became a lady, I feel rage why we ware grad from the bottom of our heart.

For several months, we have difficulty. Rika hated the menstruation very much, so resisted very hard. Then she said that she doesn't want to go to school. My husband opposed that hardly. "You can't understand the hardship of the menstruation." I said so, Rika smiled. I thought I must guard Rika. I believe that. But he said to let Rika go to school everyday. We quarreled for a long time. He opposed to spend this life, although he understood Rika's hardship. "It's not for Rika to treat special, because she is the same girl." He said so. And I argued against, "Rika is not the same a little. She is delicate." Everyday we quarreled.

The person who put a period at the end of the quarrel was Rika herself. "I will go to school against a menstruation." At last she said that. In fact we wait this words. If she didn't say so voluntarily, it will be painful that she goes to school.

...Well, it's performance till. Because my husband and I talked about that Rika has a menstruation. Perhaps she will say not to go to school. The other hardship will be caused. Then I will protect Rika, and he will say to go to school. Beforehand made scenario. He suggested that. This scenario effort bore fruit, and we spend peaceful life.

"A menstruation of Rika is for what?"...I felt sometimes.

The girl grows, has a menstruation, and has a baby. Although the girl can withstand hardships of a menstruation for the baby, Rika withstand for what.

The god, I will continue to have a grudge against you even after died, if Rika will not spend pappy life.

Concert on words By Yukie's mother

My daughter, Yukie has serious intellectual disorder. In particular, she can't speak anything. Now she is seven years old. I have taken care of her from her birth, because I am a full-time housewife. I have taught her the words by watching TV and videos. But she didn't speak. "Aaa", "Uun", she can speak just such a word. I was said from my husband, "If you don't teach more, Yukie will be in trouble in the future." I was at a loss. But then I was startled to hear the word "Future". Usually I thought under my eyes, I didn't think in the future. The future of Yukie will be how...I can take care of her ever. It's OK, but if we parents will be troubled anything...By then I went to the language remedy school where she went at very young with Yukie again, and I made sure how she spent at the school (the supported school) by watching myself not at the parents' visiting day. She communicated with her friends by shaking her head or gestures. She was inferior to the other children. In such a scene, I was surprised at the card game at the rest time. Yukie can play the card game very well. She played the card game named "SPEED" and "SHINKEISUIJAKU". When she played "SPEED", she said in the small voice, "Ready go". "She speaks!" I was surprised very much. "She can do if teach well." Then I taught her at home eagerly. I let her speak something playing the card game together. After that we read the picture books many times. Her words were small pieces. "B e c a m e h a p p y." The last phrases of the picture book. She has been able to speak the words. But she lost her temper, so I let her practice at the no load.

I heard that she didn't speak anything as usual. "Where is wrong?" I consulted to the doctor at the hospital. He answered, "she is serious intellectual disorder. Let praise her just by speaking something. Yukie can't maybe speak like the other children. But not give up. She is growing now. There are the better chance if practice hard." I got the encouraging words.

And Yukie was interested in the words. When she practiced for the concert on words at the school, she said surely. "B e c a m e h a p p y"...the words of the picture book. Her teacher knew the words of the picture book, so she gave Yukie that words for her lines. Yukie spoke not reading books! I was moved and jumped for joy. "B e c a m e h a p p y"...OK, I would you happy. My tension was max.

I think about her happiness in the future. Because she has many friends, we join to the meeting of down syndrome. Yukie is most serious disorder. But it's OK. She grows slowly.

At the day of the concert on words, the children who ware her friend of the meeting of down syndrome came, and the concert has started. After a while Yukie came on the stage wearing the princess clothes. And she spoke, "B e c a m e h a p p y". She could speak well! Her friends of the meeting also applauded. "Grate!" Someone said. Then Yukie said, "T h a n k s" on the stage. She spoke surely! Because it was not her lines, concert was stopped, but Yukie said thanks for her friends. She could do! After I was grad and surprised, I cried involuntarily. "Yukie spoke! Spoke! Spoke!" I cried with loud voice for joy. Yukie, thank you very much.

Weight of the life By Ichiro's farther

Weight of the life is the same.

My son, Ichiro who will be twelve years old this year, is down syndrome. At the time we had Ichiro, down syndrome was not understood in the society, and the disorder was load of care. The information of the Ichiro's birth with the disorder spread to the neighborhood, and they had prejudice against us. Because my wife was a full-time housewife, Ichiro and she spent at home everyday. At that time, there ware not the meeting of down syndrome (there ware the meeting maybe, but we couldn't get the information), as if we lived at the prison. I also treated formal at the office. "There are many hardship, but he will be cured"...the words my boss said to me.

I couldn't image present situation from such a period. There are the public organization named Japan down syndrome society, the many meetings of down syndrome at the every place, and the networks in the internet. If the baby is down syndrome, the sad will be momentary. Then the strong friends will support them. We can easily consult about the childcare, and speak the hardship of the admission.

Ichiro joined to the meeting of down syndrome at last year. There ware all young children than Ichiro. He couldn't think how spent at the meeting, so maybe he got angry. But the child who was about ten years old went to Ichiro, and said, "Let's play the card games!" Although Ichiro took precaution at first, he played the card game named "Speed". My wife played the "Speed" with him at home, so it was useful. "I win!" Ichiro cried with the full smile. It was the first time that he won without his mother. My wife and I wept by looking at Ichiro's smile. How great the meeting was! Ichiro's smile that we have not seen ever. I was as if in a dream.

And the new development had come. Miss Kaori who was the same years old with Ichiro joined to the meeting. Ichiro was grad to her entry. She had not played the card games. So Ichiro taught her playing the card games from the first step carefully. We looked at the game "Speed" carefully, and then Ichiro lost intentionally. Miss Kaori was grad to win. "I won! Mother, I won!" She reported to her mother with joy. Ichiro also was grad. He could lose intentionally. My wife and I ware grad that point. "Ichiro grow up", I said to my wife, she said "Yes", and she wept.

At the St.Valentine's Day, the guest came at my home. They ware Miss Kaori and her mother. "We bring the hand made chocolate." My wife and I called Ichiro in hurry. Ichiro can't understand that situation, but was grad to get the chocolate. "Thanks", he said only. And Miss Kaori went back after the short time. "Ichiro! The St.Valentine's Day! It's the first time you get the chocolate! Be grad!" I was excited. My wife explained him about the St.Valentine's Day. Ichiro started to eat the chocolate, listening the explanation. And he shared the chocolate to us (these tenderness are the merit of down syndrome). The taste was...a little salty. We ware grad to feel Miss Kaori's efforts. Ichiro ate all saying, "Delicious, delicious". And he said, "It's sweet and tender taste. The taste is for Miss Kaori. I will also make." After one month, we started to practice to make the chocolate hardly.

Ichiro gave her the white chocolate that Ichiro made. It was salty taste that Miss Kaori liked. Ichiro's tenderness appeared there too. Miss Kaori said one word, "Salty". I felt she was cute because of her honesty. But Ichiro was grad to hear that. He thought "Salty" meant the praise.

I look at these two children; I think they are the same to the normal person. Weight of the life is the same.

Present from the god By Tomoko's mother

Tomoko, would you like to have the brother?

Tomoko who was born as the first child for me is nineteen years old. She didn't have the brother and the sister. She is down syndrome. I couldn't be blessed with another baby, so Tomoko was alone everyday and spent watching TV or playing the toys. For that or not, she couldn't speak well. My family was only three, Tomoko, my husband, and I. We spent at home usually. Nineteen years ago, there was the prejudice for down syndrome yet. We ware looked with the unpleasant eyes everywhere, and I felt the schoolteacher also looked so. Tomoko who was received such a treatment got the present from the god. The brother. Now the new life that is in my body is like a life for Tomoko. I could get too late, so he would be a your child. I have not do amnio centesis. Because I was convinced that I could grow up him, if he had handicapped. I am sure. Tomoko, it owed to you. So be grad. You allowed be wild with joy.

Then...

I had the healthy baby. The person who was most grad was my husband. He was grad with tears, because we could get the brother for Tomoko. Tomoko had the brother. It's the situation that we hoped for nineteen years. "Tomoko! Be grad! You have the brother!" my husband said so, Tomoko answered with shyness, "Yes". Then she held him in her arms carefully, and confirmed the weight. "I love him because of cute", she said. And she said, "like my baby." She spoke so much. Although she didn't say much usually, then she said much because of the excitement.

When the baby and I came home, Tomoko helped housework usually. Now she helped child care also. Tomoko gave him the milk, changed his diaper, and helped very hard. This scene was the ideal that I looked in my dream. That was occurred in front of me now. I wept unconsciously, looking at Tomoko's back. Our efforts of nineteen years ware amply rewarded. I felt that the prejudice till now ware the hurdle for this moment. We ware really happy because of the hardship.

Tomoko became liked to go out with the baby car that her brother rode on. Although I thought it's too early to let him ride on the baby car, I bought it because Tomoko hoped. She went to the near supermarket, the house of my friends, and her father's office. At the first time when she went his office with her brother, my husband was surprised very much. Because it was too long way. She took him out such a long way. Tomoko was grad to see his astonishing face.

At the supermarket she was often said that the brother was his child. "He is pretty baby isn't it?" Tomoko was said so, she told a lie as if she was his mother, "Thank you very much. Really pretty he is." Now she liked to go out. Although she hated to go to the near supermarket, now she went to there everyday. I felt that she could speak much too. "If she has the brother, she can grow more." My husband said so for nineteen years all the time. Surely the period of growth came!

...I am afraid that Tomoko says "I want to have a baby." After she got the brother, it's more real. I think that this is the common worry for the parents who have the children of down syndrome. How can I explain...? But Tomoko is nineteen, she understands herself. She didn't take such a behavior for nineteen years. It's pitiful, so I weep. Tomoko, take care of your brother to your heart's content. Play with him as if he is your child. Because he is the present from the god for you who was hard for nineteen years.

The ties By Kyouko's mother

Kyouko was born with the personality of down syndrome.

When she was baby, she spent cheerfully without the complication.

She did mischief hardly at one year old.

Her mischief was harder, so I can't take care of her.

When I consulted to the elder mother who had the child of down syndrome at the meeting of down syndrome, she said, "Harder mischief is the proof of the growth. How do you let her go to the day-care center?"

At once I consulted to the day-care center, they accepted if it was OK that she belonged to the one younger class.

So, I leave her in the day-care center.

She went to there cheerfully for a while, but she was cheerless.

And she said, "I didn't want to go to the day-care center".

I asked, "Why?" she answered, "Because I was made fun of."

I was surprised. Kyouko was made fun of...It was real that we worried about. So I let her stay at home for a while.

Then I consulted to the elder mother at the meeting of down syndrome, she said, "It's OK. Entrust my child."

The elder mother suggested and I persuade Kyouko to go to the day-care center.

Then the classroom of Kyouko was decorated as Christmas, and there is the signboard written, "Welcome Kyouko". Her classmate accepted Kyouko grandly. Kyouko didn't understand what happened. But she was grad with the full smile. There was a boy at the distant from them. He was the elder mother's child. At later I hear he leaded to that welcome party, persuaded her classmate to accept her. The senior boy who had the same syndrome. And classmates who open the welcome party by agreeing with him. I thanked them really. I heard the elder mother gave advice also. I can't stop to weep in front of the scene that children occurred together.

At the later, I hear the boy was made fun of formerly. Then the elder child of down syndrome opened the welcome party for him. The ties of the meeting of down syndrome. The ties for the children of down syndrome. These children of down syndrome have the power to let the normal children be moved. I depend on the boy and his mother. And next time, Kyouko will take care of the younger child.

I hope that anyone doesn't make fun of, but it will not be lost. The children of down syndrome maybe are made fun of often. I don't accept that. Find good solution with the ties! I am convinced of the solution.

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