Her sleepy brown eyes and mussy blond hair are dead giveaways that nap time has just ended, as 16-month-old Elyse Hamm comes down the stairs, snuggled in her mother Laura鈥檚 arms.
A wary look for a stranger eventually gives way to smiles, before her focus shifts to the pile of toys she shares with her big sister, Laini, in playroom of the family鈥檚 Walnut Grove home.
Almost a year and a half ago, Laura and Brent Hamm鈥檚 second daughter was born with Down syndrome. And, with Wednesday, March 21 designated as World Down Syndrome Day, Laura felt this might be the perfect opportunity to direct a bit of focus onto the disorder, and to reach out to other parents who are facing the fear and uncertainty that gripped them throughout much of 2010.
Following a pre-natal screening at the 17-week mark of Laura鈥檚 pregnancy that spring, the Hamms got the news that there was a 50 per cent chance their second child was carrying the extra chromosome that indicates Down syndrome.
Monthly ultrasounds followed, as well as appointments with a genetic counsellor. Tests taken about two thirds of the way through the pregnancy bumped the odds up to about 75 per cent.
Several times during her regular visits, Laura was offered the opportunity to have amniocenteses and find out for sure.
Each time, she refused, knowing there are certain risks attached to the procedure.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 going to change anything and I didn鈥檛 want to take the chance,鈥� said Laura, 38. Seated at the kitchen table in her north 黑马磁力 home, the walls around her are covered with colourful works of art. From the tiny traced hands, child-sized footprints impressed in green paint and countless collages and drawings pinned to cork boards and fixed to the refrigerator, it鈥檚 clear that an artistic preschooler lives in this house.
After giving birth to a beautiful and healthy daughter two years earlier, Laura鈥檚 second pregnancy was filled with conflicting emotions.
For one thing, it was tough, said Laura, to break the news to the couple鈥檚 family and friends.
鈥淚t was very difficult to say it out loud.鈥�
But the love and support they received from relatives, friends and even work colleagues, helped the 黑马磁力 couple through some terrible days.
鈥淲e went through a grieving process while I was pregnant,鈥� said Laura. 鈥淲e grieved the loss of the child we鈥檇 imagined or anticipated.鈥�
One of the worst things, though, was a simple fear of the unknown. Reading up on the subject did little to ease those concerns as Laura learned that children with Down syndrome are at increased risk for congenital heart defects, respiratory, vision and hearing problems, childhood leukemia and thyroid problems.
But there were other, more personal, worries as well.
鈥淚 wondered if she would look like us,鈥� Laura said, 鈥渋f we鈥檇 only see the Down syndrome part and not the family resemblance.鈥�
Eventually all the questions and concerns gave way to anticipation for their new daughter鈥檚 arrival.
鈥淚t got to the point where I just wanted to meet my baby, I just wanted to have her.
鈥淚 knew that it would be OK, that I could handle it,鈥� said Laura.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad we went through the emotional part when I was pregnant,鈥� she added. 鈥淲hen she was born, there was just joy.鈥�
Elyse Patricia Hamm was born on Nov. 28, 2010 at the Abbotsford hospital, with a midwife and five nurses in the room to welcome her.
At five pounds, two ounces, she was small, but not much smaller than her older sister had been at birth.
And the family resemblance? Well, that was and remains unmistakable.
Elyse鈥檚 health issues have been relatively mild, considering.
Unlike some newborns with Down syndrome, who lack sufficient muscle tone, she was able to breast feed right away.
She has had minor surgery to correct a problem with her eyes and continues to see specialists for regular screenings. But overall, Elyse is healthy, said Laura.
鈥淪he鈥檚 developmentally delayed. It takes her a little longer but when she does things, it鈥檚 really exciting.
鈥淪he鈥檚 crawling around the house and getting into everything. She鈥檚 really curious,鈥� said Laura, with a smile.
Delayed speech is another symptom of Down syndrome, so the Hamms have begun to communicate with Elyse through the same basic sign language they used when Laini was a baby.
Having the ability to 鈥渢alk鈥� to her little sister has only increased the bond between the girls, Laura said.
鈥淟aini doesn鈥檛 see Down syndrome. It鈥檚 cool to see it through the eyes of a child 鈥� there鈥檚 no judgment.鈥�
With the seventh annual World Down Syndrome Day approaching, Laura, who works for B.C. Biomedical, is also telling her story in the company鈥檚 newsletter.
She鈥檚 talking about it for a couple of reasons, she explained.
She wants to encourage people to befriend someone with Down syndrome and learn all the wonderful qualities they have to offer.
But first and foremost, she hopes parents who are facing the same diagnosis can take something positive from her family鈥檚 experience.
鈥淚t may not be the journey you were expecting, but you meet your baby and all those fears you have won鈥檛 matter,鈥� she said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not necessarily easy, but I don鈥檛 think having any child is easy and I think she has so much to teach us.鈥�
Visit worlddownsyndromeday.org for more information.
