October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month! Today we are celebrating our friend Hope!

About 2 weeks after receiving a pre-diagnosis that Hope was going to have Down syndrome, there was a special on the Nightly News about GiGi’s Playhouse. Being as I was devastated, confused, hurt, alone, etc., this report couldn’t have come at a better time. My husband and I immediately started doing research and found there were several locations and that there was one in Oak Forest that was very close to us. We went there that weekend and met Diane. She greeted us at the door with the biggest welcome and hug. One thing I will always remember was trying not to cry because I didn’t want to seem ungrateful for the beautiful girl I was carrying because she had Down syndrome. Diane assured me that it was ok to cry and that I didn’t have to be happy with this diagnosis, but that her and the family I was about to embark on would help me along the way. We were there right when 2 & Under was about to begin and to tell you that was exactly what I needed to see is an understatement. I am still friends with all the mothers and children there. They were all so happy and thriving. I knew we would all be ok.

-Melissa, Hope’s mom