This is my nephew Sam. He has Down Syndrome. Back in July of 2008, I attended a baby shower for my sister Tausha. Her baby boy was due the end of August, her first since placing a baby girl for adoption a few years earlier. There were so many in attendance and the excitement in the air was palpable.
A few days later I received a phone call from my dad telling me that my sister had had her baby the night before, and that he was Downs. I was in shock the rest of the day. I didn't know what to think. My sister and her husband were devastated - for about an hour. Sometime after the birth of Sam, my dad came into my sister's room and told her that she had just given birth to a perfect baby. He told her that Sam had already made it to the highest kingdom in heaven, just by being born. His calling and election was already sure. From that moment on, my sister and her husband Doug embraced their son and his condition and left the hospital full of peace and hope and enthusiasm for the future.
Shortly after coming home from the hospital, my sister immediately joined the Weber/Davis County chapter of the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation, and has been actively raising funds and doing events for them ever since. Why am I telling you all this? Because their first annual Statewide Utah Down Syndrome Foundation Buddy Walk is coming up and my sister is raising funds for the event. Here is a link to Sam's page where you can donate if you would like, and here is a note from Sam in his "own words."
HELLO!!
It's that time of year again where we are fundraising for me and my friends! I will be 3 years old in July and will be starting pre-school this coming fall. I have accomplished so many things this year. I am walking, running (my family can't keep up with me) and signing over 90 signs in order to communicate with everyone. I love life and love my friends and we are hoping to raise lots of money this year for fun activities and to advocate on our behalf. Last year we were able to provide 2 Weber State scholarships for $500 each that will help students who are going to be special education teachers for me and my friends. We hope to increase that over the years.
I hope that you will be able to donate and participate in our 1st annual State Wide Buddy Walk in SLC and walk for TEAMSAM!!!
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!
Love, Sam Dingman
Hi this is the Eyres who have beendirected to your site as one that is influencing mothers and families for good! We are delighted to hear that you will be posting on POMs soon. Our daughter Saren and her friend April are the founders of Power of Moms. Your article is excellent!
ReplyDeleteWe are working on a cause right now that we think you can help us with. We are on the brink of publishing a book in New York called The Entitlement Trap which we think will help families to help their children be more responsible with money, choices and decisions. We are asking some of our favorite family bloggers to all post an endorsement of the book on the same day....August 22nd. We are working hard to get 15,000 pre-orders which will most likely get us on the best seller list when it debuts. If you can agree with our cause and would consider doing this we would appreciate it so much! Send your readers to EntitlementTrap.com for more details and how to pre-order. If you would like to use something from the blog there for a guest post on August 22nd we would love it! Thanks so much!!! Richard and Linda Eyre