Down Syndrome Awareness month October 10th-19th 2012

October 10th…….her eyes, her eyes…..one of the characteristics of people with DS is almond shaped eyes with an upwards slant. They also have small skin folds on corners of the eyes, called epicanthal folds….Veronika has amazing eyes, perfect the way they are ♥

October 11th……..like all children, some nights Veronika just doesn’t want to go to sleep, 2 hours past bedtime and still going….
October 12th……..dietary restrictions…
for those of you who have been following Veronika’s journey for a while, you would know about her dietary restrictions….we are currently on the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital(RPAH) Elimination diet with Veronika… (this is blog entry from last month)

http://www.veronikawillwalk.org/2012/09/food-intolerances-rpah-elimination-diet/

This week Veronika’s new member pack arrived for Coeliac Victoria and Tasmania, and we have had a great time looking through the recipe books and handout that were in the membership pack ♥

October 13th……..family.
Where would we be without our support network? That is not worth thinking about. We are blessed to have a wonderful supportive family, and today Veronika’s Poppy(grandfather), and his parents, Nan and Pa, Veronika’s great grandparents came for afternoon tea. And a visit from Oma(Dad’s mum too)
Photo: Down Syndrome Awareness Month....family. </p><br />
<p>Where would we be without our support network? That is not worth thinking about. We are blessed to have a wonderful supportive family, and today Veronika's Poppy(grandfather), and his parents, Nan and Pa, Veronika's great grandparents came for afternoon tea. And a visit from Oma(Dad's mum too)
October 14th…..hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is used to help hypotonia(low muscle tone), which Veronika has due to having Down Syndrome. I was told by a Paed neurologist Veronika was the ‘floppy-est baby’ she had seen in a ve

ry long time. Hydrotherapy is also used to help manage high tone, which Veronika has on her left due to her cerebral palsy. Veronika loves the water, and is learning to balance with minimal assistance, and trying to take independent steps supported by the water. We also do lots of ‘kicking’ the water to help develop her leg muscles, and Veronika has finally started to kick with both legs
Photo: Down Syndrome Awareness Month....hydrotherapy</p><br />
<p>Hydrotherapy is used to help hypotonia(low muscle tone), which Veronika has due to having Down Syndrome. I was told by a Paed neurologist Veronika was the 'floppy-est baby' she had seen in a very long time. Hydrotherapy is also used to help manage high tone, which Veronika has on her left due to her cerebral palsy. Veronika loves the water, and is learning to balance with minimal assistance, and trying to take independent steps supported by the water. We also do lots of 'kicking' the water to help develop her leg muscles, and Veronika has finally started to kick with both legs
October 15th….Buddy Walk
Sunday is Down Syndrome Tasmania’s Buddy Walk, you can join us at 10:30am in either Launceston(Royal Park), or Hobart(Parliament House lawns) where we will be going. Please come show your support for people in our community with Down Syndrome, and if you have a dollar or 2 to spare to help support people living with DS in Tasmania follow the link and joing Veronika’s team ♥
October 15th……..AFO’s, Ankle and Foot Orthotics.
Veronika has severe hypotonia(low muscle tone), and as a result her ankles collapse when she stands. Her left foot(side with hemiplegia) also curls up from the toes back because the muscles become tight, even with her underlying low muscle tone. Veronika went in today to have plaster casts made for new AFO’s. The hardest part choosing the pattern to go on them!

Photo: Down Syndrome Awareness Month....AFO's, Ankle and Foot Orthotics.</p><br />
<p>Veronika has severe hypotonia(low muscle tone), and as a result her ankles collapse when she stands. Her left foot(side with hemiplegia) also curls up from the toes back because the muscles become tight, even with her underlying low muscle tone. Veronika went in today to have plaster casts made for new AFO's. The hardest part choosing the pattern to go on them!
October 17th………just keep swimming
Being a parent of a child with different Abilities, I often tell my self ‘just keep swimming’……most days are great days, some days are much harder than others, and then other days, ‘I just keep swimming’ coz it’s all I can do. Days like today when my usually happy easy going child constantly hits her head with her hand/fist and the only reas
on I can think of is a change in diet( and the doctor we saw today agrees its the cause), just one tiny change can set off a series of reactions and I’m left trying to figure what’s going on when my child can’t tell me…..there are other days I get tired if the constant advocating for my child…. and I just keep swimming….. Then there are other moments when Veronika achieves a new skill, an amazing skill we have been working on for a while, to open her lunch box, and nothing else matters at that exact moment because now Veronika can go to school next year, because she can open her lunch box, and I’m so proud of her ♥
October 18th….Down syndrome is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866
October 19th………Broken Perceptions
A daughter of a friend of mine, asked if she could interview me for a school assignment, and of course I said I would love to ♥ Tori Thankyou for thinking to ask me about my journey, and might I add Tori got an A for her assignment…..congratulations

http://liveitwhileyoucan.com/broken-perceptions-%E2%99%A5-part-2/


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