Navigating the Challenges of Raising a Daughter with Down Syndrome and Autism: Our Journey

Introduction

My name is Meagan Friend and I am the mother of Madeline Friend, a beautiful and vibrant young girl who has been diagnosed with both Down Syndrome and Autism. Our journey together has been filled with both hardships and triumphs, and I would like to share our story with you in this blog post.

From the moment Madeline was born, we knew she was special. However, it wasn't until the doctors explained that she had Down syndrome that we truly began to understand the unique challenges that lay ahead for her. Madeline also had to undergo open heart surgery at 4 months old. This was one of the most difficult times in our journey, as we were unsure of what the outcome would be. However, thanks to the skill and dedication of her medical team, the surgery was a success and Madeline has been doing well ever since. One of the most difficult aspects of raising a child with special needs is the constant uncertainty and unpredictability of each day. We never knew what to expect and had to learn to navigate this new world as we went along. It was difficult to grasp the fact that my daughter may not be able to do what everyone else can do. I was not going to let that hold her back. Doing my own research and with the help of specialists and therapists we have been able to get her on a path to independence. Even though that road came to a slow when we noticed things still were not adding up, and we had to dig deeper to find the solution.

One of the biggest hurdles

Dual diagnosis, this was unheard of for us. Madeline was three when she was diagnosed with severe non verbal autism. The main struggle we faced was Madeline's inability to communicate. Being non-verbal and unable to express her needs and wants made it incredibly difficult for us to understand what she was thinking and feeling. This made it hard for her to socialize with friends and family, and caused a lot of frustration for her and for us.

The therapies and treatments that Madeline underwent were a constant source of hope for us. From speech therapy to occupational therapy, we tried everything we could to help her communicate and improve her quality of life. Despite the challenges, we never gave up and saw progress over time.

In addition to her communication difficulties, she developed sensory issues, along with (PICA), OCD, anxiety, aggressive behaviors and meltdowns.

As Madeline grew older, we faced new challenges as she began school. Finding the right school and support system for her was a difficult task, but we were determined to give her the best education possible. Today, Madeline is happy and thriving in a school that caters to her needs, and we couldn't be more proud of her progress.

Raising a child with special needs is not easy, and there have been many times when we have felt overwhelmed and exhausted. But through it all, Madeline has taught us the true meaning of love and resilience. She is a constant reminder to never give up and to always keep fighting for what is best for our child.

Madeline's journey has been a challenging but rewarding one. We have encountered many difficulties, but we have also seen so many triumphs. We hope that by sharing our story, we can help others who may be facing similar challenges and remind them that they are not alone in this journey. We are so grateful for the support and love that Madeline has received from our family, friends, and community, and we know that with their continued support, we can overcome any obstacle that comes our way.

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