¡Un llamado a todas las mamás (y papás), en especial los que quienes recién comienzan este camino de la discapacidad!
Antes que nada, ¡felicidades!
Tal vez todavía no lo saben, pero ese hermoso ser humano que acaba de llegar a su vida está a punto de cambiarla de maneras que nunca imaginaron. Habrán momentos difíciles, sí, pero les prometo que este camino vale la pena.
Probablemente hoy están durmiendo muy poco, preguntándose cuándo volverán a disfrutar de una ducha tranquila y sintiéndose un poco —o muy— abrumados. Yo conozco muy bien esa sensación. Recibir el diagnóstico, llevar a tu bebé a casa y darte cuenta de que ahora todo depende de ti puede ser una experiencia solitaria e incierta.
(Y a esas parejas, abuelos, familiares y amigos que están ahí apoyando cada paso del camino… también los vemos. ❤️)
También puede que su hijo ya no sea un bebé, pero acaban de recibir un diagnóstico que ha sacudido todo lo que conocían y todo lo que habían imaginado para el futuro. Respiren. Su hijo sigue siendo exactamente el mismo de ayer. Lo único que ha cambiado es que ahora cuentan con más información para comprenderle y apoyarle mejor. Aun así, es normal sentir miedo, incertidumbre e incluso duelo.
Para mí, la luz al final del túnel fueron otras mamás. Mujeres que conocí en línea y luego dentro de la comunidad de síndrome de Down, quienes, a pesar de estar cansadas, ocupadas y atendiendo a sus propias familias, siempre encontraron tiempo para responder mis mensajes, contestar mis llamadas y recordarme que no estaba sola.
Poder devolver un poco de todo lo que ellas hicieron por mí ha sido uno de los mayores privilegios de mi vida. Fue una de las principales razones que me llevaron a ayudar a fundar GiGi’s Playhouse San Diego y sigue siendo la fuerza que impulsa todo lo que hago.
Hoy estoy cursando un doctorado en Educación Inclusiva y lancé Down2Dream con una misión muy clara: normalizar la discapacidad a través de la educación, la sensibilización y la construcción de comunidades más inclusivas. También sueño con que este sea un espacio donde otras familias encuentren apoyo, orientación, recursos prácticos y, sobre todo, una comunidad que realmente las comprenda.
Bienvenidos a una comunidad extraordinaria, llena de personas que caminarán contigo, celebrarán cada logro y te sostendrán en los días difíciles. No están solos.
***
Calling all moms (and dads), especially those new to the world of disabilities!
Let me start by saying congratulations!
You may not know it yet, but that beautiful little human is about to change your life in ways you never imagined. There will be challenges along the way, but I promise you—the journey is so worth it.
Right now, you're probably running on very little sleep, wondering when you'll ever take another uninterrupted shower, and feeling more than a little overwhelmed. I know that feeling well. Bringing your baby home after the diagnosis and realizing that it's now up to you can feel incredibly lonely and uncertain.
(And to the amazing partners, grandparents, family members, and friends who show up every day—we see you, too. ❤️)
Perhaps your child is no longer a baby, but you've just received a diagnosis that has shaken everything you thought you knew and everything you had imagined for the future. Take a deep breath. Your child is still exactly the same person they were yesterday. The only thing that has changed is that you now have more information to better understand and support them. Even so, it's completely normal to feel fear, uncertainty, and even grief. Every one of those feelings is valid.
For me, the light at the end of the tunnel was other moms. Women I met online and later through the Down syndrome community who, despite being busy, exhausted, and juggling their own families, still found the time to answer my questions, return my calls, and remind me that I wasn't alone.
Paying that kindness forward has been one of the greatest honors of my life. It became one of the driving forces behind helping found GiGi's Playhouse San Diego and continues to inspire everything I do today.
Today, I'm pursuing my doctorate in Inclusive Education, and I created Down2Dream with one mission: to help normalize disability by educating, advocating, and building more inclusive communities. I also hope it becomes a place where families can find support, guidance, practical resources, and a community that truly understands.
Welcome to one of the most incredible communities you'll ever be part of. You are not alone.
*These are my opinions and views. Please always consult with your therapists, doctors and the rest of your medical team. My expertise is on my child, through my own personal life experiences. And remember, in a world where you can be anything, always be kind!
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