“Wait inside… it’s very cold out.”
“No kvetching – please be patient…the bus is coming soon.”
“Hurry up – the bus is here!”
“Let me help you with your coat.”
“Your bus broke down. I’ll have to drive you to school.”

Mosaic Trisomy 9 is a rare chromosomal disorder in which the entire 9th chromosome appears three times (trisomy) rather than twice in some cells of the body. The term “mosaic” indicates that some cells contain the extra chromosome 9, while others have the typical chromosomal pair.

In today’s society, special needs get categorized into disabilities recognized globally. You have autistic kids, kids with Down syndrome, you’ve got cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and cancer. All, commonly heard of with support and community helping these kids. Summer camps devoted to kids with cancer, schools dedicated to autism, and organizations geared specifically for kids with Down syndrome. But what happens to the kids who are what I jokingly (because we need to laugh sometimes) refer to as ‘mixed breeds’? The children who have rare disorders and diseases.

From the moment I laid my eyes on him, I knew he was destined for greatness. The crinkles on his forehead, the lifted chin and high cheekbones gave such indication. Time did not prove me wrong.

At the young age of five he surprised us all with his first word! We hadn’t expected it until much later.

In my last article, I discussed that although removal of the tonsils and adenoids (T&A) will likely improve the degree or severity of airway obstruction, in children with Down syndrome (DS), it does not always totally cure obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Because of risk of residual obstruction, a sleep study or polysomnogram (PSG) should be done in all children with DS after their T&A. It is important to determine how much residual sleep apnea might still be present in order to determine if further treatment is needed.