It Takes a Village

The following post is written by Lizette Vasquez, proud mom to 2 and a half year-old Lucas. Lizette and her husband Carlos are very active at GiGi’s Playhouse National Achievement Center. They attend LMNOP (Language, Music N’ Our Peeps!) and Open Play every week with Lucas. Visit Lizette’s blog, Life With Lucas: Living Life Without Limits for more inspiring posts!

It Takes a Village

When we received the news that our son Lucas would be born with Down syndrome it felt like our world ended and every dream we had for our
unborn baby was shattered in an instant. All because he would have 3 copies of the 21^st chromosome.  I remember feeling like I couldn’t breathe as a stream of tears endlessly raced down my face.  I still recall how small and alone I felt that day.  As I sit here today writing I see how much I have grown and my life has changed, for the better, because I have a child with Down syndrome.  I don’t have a life of sadness or regret but instead a full life of beauty and love beyond comprehension.

One of the beauties in my life are the friends I have made on this journey through GiGi’s Playhouse, who I now refer to as my family, my village.  The bonds which began through our children have grown into a strong support group of women who rely on each other for advice, understanding, friendship and most of all strength.  That’s why when one of us is in need we all stand tall for the one that needs comfort and care without hesitation.

Tonight, one of our little ones, Annie Wojtowich, is fighting for her life after open heart surgery and several complications that have impacted her recovery process.  Her parents, Arek and Monika, have been by her side since the surgery on February 10, 2014 and have most recently been trading shifts between themselves to also be home with their two other daughters, Kelly and Nicole.  Annie’s health issues are complex and have been present since her birth on May 22, 2012.  She was born with Down syndrome and a congenital heart defect (Unbalanced AV Canal) and had her first open heart surgery procedure at 1 month old.  In addition, Annie’s heart stopped working for 7 minutes when she was 2 months old. It was discovered she had Pulmonary Hypertension making her heart unable to be fixed.  The most recent heart surgery Annie had is an attempt to give her the best quality of life with the heart she currently has.

This has been trying and extremely difficult on Annie’s parents, so as a result our mom support group has put together a fundraiser to help the family with medical costs during their time of need.  It is our hope that sweet Annie soon be home with her family where she belongs.  We have faith that she will soon be able to put this behind her.

I think I speak for all the moms in my support group when I say we would do anything for Annie and love her as if she were our own daughter.  We are desperately trying to help Annie and her family in any way we can because that’s what family does.

You can follow Annie’s story on Facebook at “Annie Golden Heart” and you can join our fundraising efforts at https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/8hdP8 to help this beautiful little girl.