It was a beautiful day in Paris. Music filled the air, children laughing, and the adults enjoying the company of their friends. Just an ordinary day where everyone was filled with happiness.
Two beautiful young women sat outside the famous Notre Dame, watching their children play with a goat. The boy was nine and the girl four. Based on their interaction, it was clear they were best friends.
However? If you looked a bit closer at the blond hair toddler? You'd notice some unusual features about her. Her face seemed a bit flattened while her bright green almond-shaped eyes slanted upward. In addition, she had relatively small ears, hands, and feet. Esmeralda looked at her best friend Madellaine, who seemed worried. "Madellaine, is something the matter?"
The pretty light-haired lady bit her lip, "You know how I feel about Rachelle being out in the open. It took twenty years for my husband to be accepted. So I'm already aware of how some people view our daughter."
"Rachelle may be different like her father, Madellaine. However, she's an incredibly warmhearted child. She and Zephyr get along fine.
You know he's always helping her with improving her speech. Plus, he can calm her down when she gets anxious," the gypsy reminded her.
"I know. I'm grateful that Zephyr is so patient with her. That he doesn't get annoyed or frustrated with Rachelle's struggles."
"Zephyr's always been a good kid. I couldn't be more proud of him the way he's helping his best friend/ little sister." Esmeralda giggled, to which her best friend nodded.
"Yes, they, without a doubt, behave more like siblings then friends. It's adorable."
Zephyr lifted Rachelle onto Djail's back, holding her steady as they walked around. Rachelle didn't use words but did laugh happily. "Hold tight, Rachelle," he reminded her, still holding tightly onto her so she wouldn't fall off. Again Rachelle remained behind in her ability to speak correctly.
Yet, Zephyr knew what his 'little sister' needed, even if she lacked the skill to tell him verbally—again proving how protective and patient he was. He didn't even get frustrated when Rachelle's obsessive behavior came up.
Madellaine felt extremely lucky again how extraordinary a 'big brother' Zephyr was to Rachelle. Esmeralda also couldn't hide her pride in her son since Rachelle did fill a void for him. Zephyr had desired a sibling for a long time. Regrettably, Esmeralda had problems with conceiving. Due to her abnormal periods, she'd been lucky to have Zephyr at all.
Due to this? She didn't think she'd ever conceived again. So when Rachelle had been born? Immediately Zephyr started acting like a big brother, which made all of them happy.
Rachelle again was behind in her speech, plus had a hard time hearing people, which is also why Zephyr came up with his own version of sign language to help her communicate better.
Finally, it was time for dinner as the mothers collected their children. They promised they'd see each other again in the morning. Madellaine helped Rachelle wave goodbye to her brother.
Smiling, Madellaine headed into the church to have dinner with her husband. Once again glad Rachelle had such an amazing big brother who loved her to death. Small blessings are better than no blessings at all. The benefit of family and unconditional love is one of the greatest treasures of all!
Down syndrome or Down's syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21.
It is usually associated with physical growth delays, mild to moderate intellectual disability, and characteristic facial features
Some standard physical traits of Down syndrome include:
A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose.
Almond-shaped eyes that slant up.
A short neck.
Small ears.
A tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth.
Tiny white spots on the iris (colored part) of the eye.
Little hands and feet.
Common learning and behavioral symptoms of Down syndrome include:
Delays in speech and language development.
Attention problems.
Sleep difficulties.
Stubbornness and tantrums.
Delays in cognition.
Delayed toilet training.
Down syndrome also affects a person's ability to think, reason, understand, and be social. The effects range from mild to moderate. Children with Down syndrome often take longer to reach essential goals like crawling, walking, and talking.
Having Down syndrome also increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Other problems. Down syndrome may also be associated with other health conditions, including endocrine problems, dental problems, seizures, ear infections, and hearing and vision problems.
Some babies are born with a condition called Down syndrome. Kids with Down syndrome often have medical problems and trouble learning. But many can go to regular schools, make friends, enjoy life, and get jobs when they're older.
Long-term (chronic) constipation problems. Sleep apnea (because the mouth, throat, and airway are narrowed in children with Down syndrome) Teeth that appear later than expected and in a location that may cause problems with chewing. Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
The psycho-social and environmental triggers also lead to generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, depression, and sleep difficulties. In addition, they may be associated with weight loss, poor self-care, and the inability to be motivated to attend school or go to work placements.
You Become The Company You Keep
Surround yourself with people who uplift your spirit and set fire to your soul. They'll inspire you to live boldly and thrive. Cultivate an inner circle that embodies whomever you hope to be in the world. They'll prepare you to flourish.
Walk alongside those who accept others and love wholeheartedly. They'll teach you how to love unconditionally. To be courageous enough to surround yourself with genuinely kind people is to show that you are genuinely kind as well.