Dear Friends of the Down Syndrome Congress,
Exactly five years ago my wife and I sat on the beach in San Diego cradling our new baby boy. Our beautiful son had Down Syndrome and I could not yet see how that would have a positive effect on our already busy lives. In front of me, playing in the sand, was another boy who had down syndrome. He was maybe 10 years old and seemed to be the happiest kid on the beach, so I decided to approach him.
A few minutes later I saw my wife happily engaged in conversation with another woman looking over my new son. The woman was smiling, beaming, admiring my boy. Somehow I knew this was the mom of my new friend I had just met on the beach. I rejoined my wife and had a pleasant 10 minute conversation about what we could expect in our new world of Down Syndrome.
Exactly four years went by with zero contact with this woman. Why would there be? We did not exchange contact information and they were visiting from another state. But we unexpectedly reconnected with that lady in what can only be described as a miracle. We learned she was in dire need of a kidney transplant and had nearly exhausted her search.
At that same time, I was enjoying myself at the 2017 National Down Syndrome Congress in Sacramento, CA. It was my first experience at the convention. I got a booth, sold some books, and laughed it up with new friends. I was privileged to speak at the Emerald Dinner where I told a few jokes and announced through a poem that I would absolutely be at the 2018 Congress in Dallas.
Exactly one year later I am not with you in Dallas. I am 800 miles away from my home and family, in another state, lying in a hospital bed with others attending to me. Just down the hall, that nice lady we met on the beach, five years ago, is in her hospital bed with a new kidney.
Do not ever discount the beautiful Down Syndrome families you meet. In the five years since my family involuntarily joined the world of Down Syndrome, we have seen miracle after miracle, enjoyed amazing blessings, and met the most beautiful people in the world! There is something special about it that cannot be explained except to say that it’s awesome.
Enjoy Dallas my friends and I hope my family and I will see you next year.
Sincerely,
Rick Daynes
P.S. Please read the first two paragraphs of the attached article. It is about my kidney recipient and I. It mentions our connection to Down Syndrome, but cannot possibly explain how powerful that connection can be.
#NDSC, #NDSC2018, #downsyndrome, #keepittogetherman
