When Rachel Mullally found out that her new baby would be born with Down Syndrome, she and her husband Eddie faced shock, disbelief and fear, all at once. But Kitty’s irrepressible spirit means she’s the life and soul of the family. Here, Rachel shares her story, and how the Mullally family found support, friendship and a sense of community through the Down Syndrome Centre Cork.
Rachel is mum to two children, Ewan and Kitty, who both bring huge joy to her and her husband Eddie. This is her story, in her own words.
At 32 weeks pregnant, Kitty was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and also IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction). Learning she had Down Syndrome was a huge shock to us. Hearing this news, you think you’re the only parents who have ever been in this situation. The fear of the unknown creeps in, and you believe your life has taken a road you’re not sure you want to go down. We were lucky, and with the amazing support of our family and friends we realised that, first and foremost, we were still going to be parents to a new baby girl.
A Down Syndrome Diagnosis
Down Syndrome is a genetic condition where an extra chromosome joins the 21st pair at conception, resulting in three copies instead of two. This is why it’s also known as Trisomy 21. It’s one of the most commonly occurring chromosomal conditions, and in Ireland it affects roughly 1 in every 600 births.
When you’re told your newborn baby has, or will have, Down Syndrome, it’s natural to experience a number of strong emotions, particularly in the first weeks and months. For some parents it’s shock, having had no advance warning. For others it’s disappointment that they weren’t handed the baby they anticipated, or worry about what lies ahead. All of these emotions are common. But in the days and weeks that follow, you realise you have a tiny baby who needs the same love and attention as any other baby, with their own personality that will develop and inspire you for years to come.
Our Little Fighter
Eddie and I had a little time before Kitty’s birth to try to get our heads around the diagnosis. Kitty was born at 34 weeks, weighing just 3lbs, and to say we instantly fell in love with this little fighter is an understatement. She proved her strength from day one and has continued to amaze us ever since. She spent the first six weeks of her life in the neonatal unit and came home on the day she was originally due.
At two and a half, Kitty gave us plenty of fun, plenty of tantrums, and big decisions about what to wear, because yes, she is a diva! She was full of life, with a positive and determined personality that kept us all on our toes. Like any child her age, she loved exploring, including climbing up onto everything in sight.
Kitty knows she’s loved, and whatever the future holds, we face it with a smile, because we’re stronger than we thought we could ever be. We’re able to face anything because this little girl brightens up our days with her cheeky smile.
Parent Networking
During Kitty’s first year, I wanted to reach out to other families with children of a similar age who also have Down Syndrome. It was during this time that other parents, like myself, felt there was a lack of specific early intervention support for our children in the South of Ireland.
Early intervention includes occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and other resources that are essential for children with Down Syndrome. We felt not enough was available to our children in these vital early stages of life, and it was through this gap in services that the Down Syndrome Centre Cork came to be.
The Down Syndrome Centre Cork was founded in early 2017 and is affiliated with the well-established Down Syndrome Centre in Dublin. The centre is dedicated to providing support and facilities to families and carers of children with Down Syndrome, offering a variety of options from birth onwards. One of the most valuable benefits we found was having a central hub for networking with other families.
Many parents would admit that after receiving a Down Syndrome diagnosis, acceptance can be a lengthy and lonely process. The Down Syndrome Centre Cork is bright, colourful and filled with positive energy, giving parents an optimistic outlook for the future. Being able to engage with other parents strengthens that acceptance. Our ethos as a centre is one of positivity, where instead of focusing on the negative side of the condition, we look at the positive attributes our children bring to society.
We believe every child deserves the right to reach their full potential, to be included in society and accepted by their peers. We believe that with the right support and services, a child is “Able2” reach his or her full potential in life. “I’m Able2” summarises our approach to promoting this ethos of positivity across our annual fundraising campaigns.
Life at the Down Syndrome Centre Cork
We’ve both made lifelong friends at the centre, and Kitty attended a weekly SKIP (Special Kids Intervention Programme) class, which we both loved. SKIP is an early intervention programme that targets all areas of a child’s development, including speech and language, fine motor skills, gross motor skills and social skills. The aim is to give children the chance to come together, learn from one another, and experience developmental support geared towards their specific needs, with the goal of preparing a child with Down Syndrome for mainstream school.
Kitty is undoubtedly the life and soul of our family. She is loved by everyone she meets, and adored by her big brother Ewan. This is a journey I never imagined we would take, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. I promise you, this will change your life for the better.
For more information on the Down Syndrome Centre Cork, you can contact the centre directly or visit their website and Facebook page, where parents from all over the world connect and share their experiences every day.
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If Rachel’s story resonated with you, you might also like:
- 50 Mums, 50 Kids, 1 Extra Chromosome for World Down Syndrome Day
- Why We Should Lose the Label
- 7 Valuable Insights on How to Calm Anxiety in Your Child
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