Caroline
By
Jennifer Comford
jencomford@charter.net
Hello, my name is Jennifer Comford and I want to share with you our family's story of our beautiful little girl, Caroline. After what seemed to be a very uneventful pregnancy came a time of shock and dismay. Our beautiful little girl was thought to have Down syndrome. This prediction was made about two hours after her birth by a pediatrician sent over by the local children's hospital. He told us he suspected our baby might have Down syndrome and asked us for permission to start genetic testing. My husband and I agreed to the testing and there began our short journey. Ten days after her birth, Caroline was diagnosed with Smith-Magenis syndrome.
Those early days were awful times filled with uncertainty and fear, but also with overflowing amounts of love. We knew our task was not going to be easy but here it is a little over two years later. I cannot begin to describe the amount of joy Caroline has brought to our home. Things aren't always easy but we manage through. We feel blessed every single day that Caroline was diagnosed so early. Caroline begin speech therapy and occupational therapy at 2 months old and picked up physical therapy at about 6 months of age. Her progress has been tremendous and her support staff is absolutely wonderful. Caroline of course was and is still a late bloomer, but in my mind there is nothing she can't do until she proves it to me herself.
Joe and I want nothing more for Caroline than we want for Maddy, our seven- year old daughter. We want her to reach her fullest potential and whatever that turns out to be is fine, just as long as we know in our hearts we have afforded her every opportunity in life she deserves. What a truly spectacular feeling it is to see her accomplish things that she couldn't do just the week before.
Caroline has been walking independently for six months now and in fact is getting so strong that they reduced her physical therapy to one time per week. Speech of course is our biggest delay, but we are slowly progressing. Caroline is currently trying to say about three words, but you need a Caroline-to-English dictionary to understand them. Of course, Mom has already come equipped with that because I am now able to translate for her. Funny how moms just know.
Our journey with Caroline has really just begun. Sometimes I read what some of the other parents are going through and just weep and other times I'm almost jumping for joy at some of the other children's accomplishments. Please allow me to thank you all for sharing your knowledge, frustrations, strengths and accomplishments. You are leading the way for these uncertain times ahead and I have quickly learned that those of you who have already been there are the greatest source of information and support. We have only been at this for two short years and we have a long road ahead, but even still I could write chapters on life with Caroline. I will spare all the details because I know you all "get it". Thank you so much for allowing me to share a little piece of our life with Caroline.
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