We are all too familiar with the occasional dilemma we face when invited to attend a family Simcha.

For families with typical children the focus is around scheduling, deciding which children are too young to attend, arranging babysitters or friends who we could leave ur little ones with until late at night, while outfitting the older ones in honor of the occasion which likely entails getting their hair done, renting gowns, etc.

Hey, its Gadi + Mom and we’re back. You might remember us from the article featuring Cerebral Palsy, where I had told you about Gadi’s birth story and how we’ve gotten this diagnosis. I wanted to do a quick update and fill you folks in on what we’ve been up to this past year.

A beautiful packet has been prepared for new mothers upon the birth of a baby with Down syndrome.

Have you ever felt that something really good is about to happen? That sense of excitement and restlessness when you know that something is about to change your life forever? That’s how I felt when I came to the hospital to give birth to my tenth child bli ayin hora.

In the first weeks after our son with Down syndrome was born, my thoughts strayed to his health throughout his life. My impression was that all adults with Down syndrome were very obese. As a dietitian, most of my work had been in the weight management area. I had seen first-hand the effects long-term obesity had on a person’s life.

A ‘peckel’ to me Hashem did throw
And I thought that I had accepted it long ago
But the other day when I was put to trial
I realized that I was still in denial.

Zelig twirled his left payo as he watched a fly circle the wall sconce. His mind was going in circles too. How had he come to this? When had it all started? Years back, when he had re-embraced Yiddishkeit and mentschlichkeit he vowed to himself that one day he would write a book titled ‘Back From the Abyss’. Right now he’d change the title to ‘Back To the Abyss’.

Shimmi!! Shimmi Dunner!! This is a farewell to one of London’s most beloved characters and it is a dedication to Shimmi’s most devoted and admired parents – Rav z’tl and Rebbetzin Dunner a’h.
Shimmi was an individual with Down syndrome, who was niftar on Rosh Chodesh Sivan at the ripe old age of 71. Although age 71 is generally not considered a ”ripe old age”, in reference to those with Down syndrome 71 is generally considered record-breaking.