Daniel Ratkiewicz, the seventh child of John and Kathy, was born July 31st, 1998 with Down syndrome and a complete AV Canal heart defect. His first year was rough because of problems associated with his heart defect, but he's doing great now.

As someone said when told that a friend was expecting a child with DS - "Well, that's a bend in the road, isn't it?"
And that's just it - a diagnosis of down syndrome is a bend in the road, not the end of the road.

And together we stand at life's crossroads
And view what we think is the end,
But God has a much bigger vision
And He tells us it's only a bend;

For the road goes on and is smoother,
And the "pause in the song" is a "rest",
And the part that's unsung and unfinished
Is the sweetest and richest and best;

So rest and relax and grow stronger,
Let go and let God share your load,
Your work is not finished or ended,
You've just come to a bend in the road.

from "A Bend in the Road"
by Helen Steiner Rice

 

Contact me at Kathy_R@attbi.com