As I wiggled out of my mothers womb into this chaotic world and took my first breath, gosh! It hurt, my lungs burned with
oxygen. “Pat, Pat “, I was hit on my behind by a lady in white. “ Hey!”I wanted to say,” watch out! That hurts Ma’am”. But I could only manage, “ Wa, Wa, Wa “. They all started smiling and looked happy when I cried. They ran around telling each other,”It’s a girl, it’s a girl”
I was put onto a cold tray and then wrapped tight in a white towel and taken to the door.
When I looked out I saw so many people!!! One of them ran towards us. “ The {Nurse} they called her, said” Mr. Sharma, Congratulations, you are the father of a baby girl”. The man’s face lit up. Then he asked in a concerned voice, “How is my wife?” .The nurse said,” She is fine, Sir, you can come in”. As I was put in his arms and he looked into my eyes I knew, this was none other than my father. My father took me inside; a woman was lying in bed. My father gave me to her and the moment she held me close I could hear her heart beat and “I KNEW” this is my mother.
I was taken home a few days later. Lots of people came to see my mom and me. They made funny sounds and faces. It really made me laugh and when I laughed they looked victorious and announced to everyone,” “Guys, She likes me. She just smiled at me.”
My Mom and Dad looked after me very well, I hated to see them go to office but, after a whole day with strangers, it was really nice to see them when they came to pick me up.
I was among several other children. But, I felt I was different. They could put rings in the rod but no matter how much I tried I couldn’t. They could form full words and I could just say “ ma” or “ pa”. It was not that I didn’t know it; I just couldn’t use my mouth and tongue too well. The lady at the day care center started whispering, when I was around. Then one evening, the lady, called my mother inside and told her to take me to a
doctor and have me checked. My Mom looked at me and then peered at me. It was the strangest look I had ever seen on her face. When we reached home, she told my dad something and she cried, ‘Dad comforted her. I wanted to comfort her too. But I couldn’t. She just held me tight and hugged me.
The next day I was taken to the Doctor’s place. It smelt very similar to the place where I was born.
The next few days I was taken to the Doctor’s place everyday .My
parents remained unusually glum. Then one day the Doctor told my parents that I was suffering from Down’s syndrome. This restricted the use of my limbs. I did not have proper control on my body.
The next few days were very difficult. It was very sad to see my parents. They looked so sad that I wanted to reach out and hug them. I wanted to tell them that I am complete inside. When God sent me to them he sent a complete soul and spirit. But again I could just call out to them and say “Pa” and “ Ma”.
As I grew up the intensity of my challenges increased. I could not co-ordinate my limbs, as I wanted to. I drooled. I knew it was happening, but I could not control it. Some children made fun of me. Elder’s stared. But my parents stood by me. By now they knew when I was unhappy and when I was fine.
My parents always told me that they loved me and that I should not worry about the world. Their words gave me strength.
I went to a special school where there were other children like me. We could talk to each other in our own way. I got a few friends. And then I was taught to form word and to write. We were taught to type on the computer. It was a huge struggle. It took ages for me to type but I stuck on. This is how I have been able to tell you my story. My struggle is on but I feel caged in this body .I know that I am as perfect as anyone. My parents are the only people who treat me with love and respect. For everybody else I am just
“Syndromous”.