GiGi’s Impact | New Diagnoses and First Visit to GiGi’s
Today we welcome GiGi’s Playhouse mom & Site Coordinator at GiGi’s Playhouse Tinley Park to the #gigisblog. Welcome Beth!
I am a firm believer in the saying “nothing happens by chance” and I believe that every blessing I have been given the past two years has been a result of the amazing blessing I received when my daughter Nora was born in July 2014.
Nora’s birth was a whirlwind and the only thing I can tell you that I distinctly remember is the neonatologist telling my husband Jim and I that Nora most likely had Down syndrome. Now don’t get me wrong, it was definitely unexpected and I’m sure I had some of the same thoughts and feelings as many others did. But the thing I didn’t expect, were the amazing things that would happen in my life as a result of Nora’s birth.
After Nora was born, we began to look into resources for her, and we heard about an amazing place called GiGi’s Playhouse that everyone kept saying we had to check out. The first time I walked into GiGi’s Playhouse with my mom, sister, son Benjamin, and Nora. I was immediately greeted with a warm and loving hug by the Site Coordinator Diane Husar. All of the parents that were there greeted us with love and warmth, and I knew that everything was going to be alright. From time to time Diane and I do outreach together and she always likes to tell people that when I left that day….
my mom leaned over to her and said “thank you for taking a burden off of my daughters shoulders” and it was so true, because my first visit to GiGi’s did exactly that.
It lifted all the pain and worry away and gave me the ability to confront Down syndrome head on. I knew I was no longer alone. GiGi’s connected us with the most amazing people who became our community and family. And our journey continues. I have learned about the possibilities for Nora and I know that regardless of what she does in her life, Down syndrome will not inhibit her from doing anything. I have learned that differences are not weaknesses and my daughter is not Down syndrome, she is my beautiful Nora.
Miss Nora is Day 45 of #321DaysofAcceptance and we are so happy that Nora is exactly who she is!
If you have missed any of our amazing people being featured on 321 Days of Acceptance you can visit here to get caught up and inspired. As you read the quick stories you will find that we really are all made up of the same hopes, dreams, likes, and needs.
If you would like to have your loved one featured please email Heather at hrodriguez@gigisplayhouse.org for more information.
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