COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Katy Foley knows first hand what it’s like to raise a child with Down syndrome. Her son, Lincoln, was born with it.
Down syndrome, also known as Trisomy 21, is a condition caused when someone is born with an extra chromosome. It affects about 6,000 babies every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“There’s about one out of 700 kids born with Down syndrome," said Jason James, Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley board member.
Common physical features of Down syndrome include:
- Flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose
- Almond-shaped eyes that slant up
- Short neck
- Small ears
- Tongue that tends to stick out of the mouth
- Tiny white spots on the iris
- Small hands and feet
- Small pinky fingers that sometimes curve toward the thumb
- Poor muscle tone or loose joints
Source: CDC
But just like anyone else, people with Down syndrome want to live a normal life.
”They want to have marriage. They want to have jobs. They want to live independently," Foley said. "They are capable of doing all that, especially when they’re given guidance and support."
On Sunday, DSABV hosted its 18th annual ‘Dash for Down Syndrome’ – a one mile walk -- in College Station to raise money and awareness about the condition.
”Down Syndrome Association of Brazos Valley, it’s an association that helps many aspects of families that have Down syndrome kids through resources, through education, life skill classes,” James said. “A lot of these members that we have, we haven't seen in a while. They’ve been quarantined and just trying to stay safe, and this is a good way to get out … It’s great to see everybody.”
Click here if you would like to donate to DSABV.
By the way, October is Down syndrome Awareness Month.
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