One Year Down This Path - A Fathers Perspective On Down Syndrome

[coyote70k]

Holland is Beautiful!!!

[carol3hawks]

I have been in Holland for the past 34 years, when I had a son with DS. He is fabulous and Holland is a beautiful place! There were times I wanted to leave, but he always drew me back. DS is not a bad thing, just a different thing.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@carol3hawks Thank you for sharing.... I would imagine "Holland" is like any other place, some good, and some bad. Depends on where you focus. Glad to hear you were "drawn back".

[maryfro05]

I'm back to comment, tonight had just had to watch this again-we welcomed Alexander Rielly on 1/6/12 and he captures everyone's heart when they meet him-this is a video I think I will keep coming back to just to remind myself how lucky and blessed my husband and I are. Thanks again for a great video

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@maryfro05 FANTASTIC! Happy Birthday to Alex! I hope he likes older women! I am impressed you already realize that you are VERY lucky and blessed. Enjoy the journey! ..... and, I would imagine, enjoy those few sleepless nights? They pass quickly.

[rebeccakaylin07]

What a fantastic video!! A beautiful and wonderful little girl you have been blessed with that is perfect in every way. I wish all the best for you and your family!! Thank you very much for uploading this video. And that picture with your two boys laying beside their little sister made my heart melt! SOOOO adorable!! Beautiful family!! :)

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@rebeccakaylin07 Thank you!

[JacobsJourney1210]

Thank you for this video. Our son was born 12/10/12 and we were told he has DS. Your video not only described exactly how I felt, it also helped me to share the news of our beautiful son. We are very excited to learn more and meet others on the island!! Thank you.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@JacobsJourney1210 Welcome to the island! Get out and meet some other people as quickly as you are able. FYI - Bethanys oldest brother is Jacob - I love the name!  Big hugs and happy birthday!

[thedavisfolk]

Our first born son just turned 5 last month. We are beyond blessed by him and are thankful every day that he has Downs. He has helped us become better people.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@thedavisfolk Congratulations and Happy Belated Birthday to your son. I heard the better people story a lot the first few months, and didn't quite get it. As the year went by, I started to understand. A year later is good, but 4 more years? It must be terrific! Thanks for commenting.

[rayela80]

we also have a daughter with down syndrome, she is 18 months old. i have to say how much i appreciate this video! your daughter is absolutely precious! congratulations!

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@rayela80 Thank you!

[grobiegirl12]

Thank God for people like you! Your daughter is beautiful :) May God bless you all!

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@grobiegirl12 Thank you - He is blessing our family. 

[Ayala87able]

This video is simply outstanding! I love it. And its nice to see what a positive outlook you have. Thank you for sharing.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@Ayala87able Thank you. And thanks for the positive comment - it keeps us going to know people are being helped by our story.

[DCSDKA]

Great video!

[bunnerrrs]

She's gorgeous! And what a wonderful message you're sending out there.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@bunnerrrs Thank you!

[LisaMarieJMJT]

:)

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@LisaMarieJMJT :) back at ya!. 

[trammell333]

Are you a part of your local DS group? I'll bet you're a great encouragement to your fellow parents.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@trammell333 My wife and I both started getting a little more involved a few months ago. It took us a while, but I think the group helped us more than they realize. Thanks for commenting.

[nondo5721]

Not a downs baby. A beautiful baby who happens to have Down syndrome. I know you will find that having Down syndrome is only a small part of who your child is.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@nondo5721 I agree - Thanks for commenting.

[lorchick86]

I don't have any family members with DS but I do have friends and acquaintances that have this or other 'special needs' children in their family. I love that you used the example of Holland because the dutch word for special needs children translates directly to King's Children or Children of the King (the Lord) and it is by far my favorite 'label' because they truly are such a blessing. A challenge, yes, but such a blessing as well.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@lorchick86 Wow, I didn't know that... Thank you for sharing. 

[picatslat]

As a proud grandparent of an adopted 9 month old with DS, I hope for the day when her accomplishments are not defined by the words "with Down Syndrome". Enjoy your little girl, she is adorable!

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@picatslat Congratulations! Very, Very proud of our adoptive parents in our little world of DS. That is quite a selfless thing to give someone with some special needs. You must be extremely proud! Thanks for sharing your story. Justin

[iveenend]

My son Pierce was born August 31, 2011. It was such a shock to find out that he had Down Syndrome. It took my husband and I a couple of weeks to come to terms with the diagnosis. We love our little guy to pieces and he has 3 big sisters that adore him, but I still have moments when I wish we could give back his extra chromosome. I must say that your video has helped me in a big way to realize that this is truly a blessing to him and to our family. Thank you!

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@iveenend Keep up the good work. I think we all have our moments.... especially in the first year. We had a lot of emotions early on, and still do. And all of them are OK. Thank you for watching and responding. Justin

[Kirabelle420]

I have taken care of people with disabilities for 11 years. My favorite people on this earth have Down's. I have not yet been blessed with my own children, but I hope to foster/adopt a baby with Down's at some point. Your daughter is beautiful <3

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@Kirabelle420 Thank you for all your hard work. I have heard the same comments from others who work in the caring community. I just told Bethany you thought she was beautful, which got a big smile.

[NoahsDadDotCom]

So great! Thanks for posting this. Your daughter was born one day after our son. :)

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@NoahsDadDotCom Happy one month belated birthday to Noah.... And lucky Noah - Bethany likes older men. Thanks for the positive comments. Justin

[mrsollycat]

Thank you for this lovely film. We are 13 years down the path with my beautiful 'baby' sister and it is a joy to see her taking on the world and winning, every day! Enjoy each precious moment - it's so exciting! Best wishes.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@mrsollycat Thank you for watching - and WINNING! Enjoy those precious moments.

Justin

[Mommy2uniqueplus2]

Thank you for sharing your journey...We were blessed 6 months ago today with our daughter Natalie...She has surgery Tuesday to repair the double hole in her heart and I hope she bounces back and makes leaps and bounds much as your daughter! We have truelly been blessed by God to have Natalie and it has strengthened my faith and the faith of my family. We all have been blessed...Thank you again!

[mila659]

What a WONDERFUL video!! Thank you so much, Bethany's Daddy, for helping others to understand how lucky we all are to have our amazing children. Our daughter, Gemma, is 11 months now and we feel more blessed with every passing day that we get to be her parents. You have a true gift for communicating essential truths :)

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@mila659 Thank you for watching! Happy birthday Gemma!

[kimamas44]

Thanks for sharing. I have an amazing little guy who has Down syndrome. He's a blessing!

[livinlikeitsamiracle]

BethanysBiggestFan - My wife told me I had too watch your video, that it is an exact reflection of our family. Emily was born on Nov 8th 2010. She has two bigger brothers (7 and 5). We were told the same Italy story, the same potential issues. Our family has the exact same experiences and we cannot imagine Emily being any "different", she is exactly who she is supposed to be...perfect. Thank you for sharing this.

Tim Clyde

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@livinlikeitsamiracle Tim - thanks for watching. I met a few little brothers a few weeks ago at a Christmas party. Maybe 12 and 14. I asked them if they ever had to "look out" for their little sister. One of them said "Only a couple times, but we keep a pretty good eye on her." I couldn't help but smile..... Ours will be 5 and 7 in just a couple months. Small weird world we live in.

[65katvirgo]

What a great video. What a great message. We are 4 years now in Holland. Sometimes its hard, but its never horrible. Its almost always filled with tears, the happy kind. :o) Shared on my fb. /katvirgo would love to get a friend request from you.

[pclyde3]

Absolutely beautiful!!!!!! We are also 1 year down this amazing path. Emily was born, Nov. 8, 2010. Emily and Bethany could be twins, down to her beautiful hair!!!! We too hit the lottery and I can never take back those couple weeks of sadness but Tim, her two brothers and I show her every day how amazing and beautiful she is. What an amazing Birthday gift for your beautiful daughter! Thank you for creating this and sharing this with the world!!!!!!

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@pclyde3 Thanks so much for watching..... What a difference a year makes!

[meganlandmeier]

BEAUTIFUL. And I can't help it, the photo of Bethany in her Halloween costume made me crack up! She is such a beauty!

[maryfro05]

We were lucky to get our diagnosis back in August and on Jan 9th we will have our baby boy join us-we are looking forward to meeting him, getting to know him and what he will teach us. I'm emailing this to all my family who also has embraced having a downs baby in the family. Thank you

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@maryfro05 You are getting close! Enjoy your journey! 

[chickielove04]

This video is priceless. God gives these special little babies to special people. I am so glad to see that you have embraced Bethany as a gift. She is a beautiful little girl and you are so blessed to have her. Happy Belated Birthday, Bethany!

[darrincoe]

Absolutely true! We had Kaylen 14 months ago and our family is so much better off with her as part of our clan. Thank you for sharing your honest and loving video. :)

[LB0313]

I absolutely loved your video... its so positive and inspiring. My fiancée and I had a baby girl two months ago and I give thanks everyday for being blessed with her. Like Bethany, she's the pillar of our family making each of us stronger day by day. If you know of any blogs or support groups for fathers please share. Again, lovely video. Happy holidays and God bless you and your family.

[BethanysBiggestFan]

@LB0313 Thanks so much for watching.... Honestly, I dont know a whole bunch of places for fathers.... It's part of the reason I posted the video - to give a fathers perspective. I tend to "lurk" on my wifes baby center forums. There are some good comments from time to time, and makes the world a little smaller, and less isolating. Enjoy that little baby girl!

[momma2tmk]

Wow!!!! What a great video, I found your link on BabyCenter/Down Syndrome.

[thriver13]

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Emma was talking while tying. She said, "I love you, Beffany!" giggle giggle "I love you too boys! You are so sweet to Beffany." giggle giggle

Then she leaned forward and hugged the laptop. (This Mama is in tears. So much love. :o)

[thriver13]

I'm sitting with Emma at the kitchen table watching and rewatching your video. She keeps giggling and saying, "Dat's my cousin! Dat's Beffany!" The she says, "Dose boys are funny! Dey are my cousins too! I love my cousins! Dey are so sweet." :o)

I want to come see you guys so badly!!!! I've been dying to hold Bethany for a whole YEAR now! That's just TOO long to wait. ;-)