October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month: Big Giveaway, 15% Sales Donation
In honor and remembrance of my nephew, Brandon Nelson, I have been inspired to support Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
For the month of October, Bear Paw Creek will be running a big giveaway and also donating 15% of sales to a local group, Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks.
There will also be a two part blog post about Down Syndrome and celebrating worth.
The Year My Parents Added Three More Grandchildren
The year 2002 was a year of booming growth in our family. This is the year that my brother and his wife, my sister and her husband, and my husband and I were expecting new additions. Since there are only three of us siblings, my parents were being blessed with adding three grandchildren to their growing family tree!
This was our second child, and my brother and sister’s first! Our daughter, Madison, was born first in April, with our nephew Brandon being born in August, and our niece Sammie arriving in October.
I can still remember the day my brother called to tell me that they had found out their little one would have Down Syndrome. We soon found out that he would also have issues with his heart. Heart defects and disease is more common in children with Down Syndrome; here this article states that their risk is between 40-60.
So my nephew was scheduled to have a life saving heart operation shortly after birth, and more down the road. After Brandon was born and before our niece Sammie was born, I was able to head to Wisconsin to visit family with our two oldest children. My oldest was 4 at the time, and baby was 5 months old. I am so glad I was able to meet Brandon in person and hold him. Back then we didn’t have digital cameras, or phones with cameras in them, so I do wish we had more pictures from that trip. In the bottom left corner, our oldest son is holding Brandon with me assisting.
When I left Wisconsin, my sister was end of pregnancy huge! I was hoping baby would come early so I could be there, but our niece had her own idea on when she’d arrive. Sammie was born a few weeks after I arrived back home in Missouri.
I sure wish we could have had pictures of the three cousins born in 2002 together, because 2003 brought sad times. Shortly after marking his five month birthday, Brandon’s little heart couldn’t keep up and he went to be in Heaven.
When I saw a few months ago that October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I thought of Brandon, I thought of our neighbors with George, and another family that has two children with Down Syndrome. What started out as wanting to give back to the community with another sale donation has grown.
Bear Paw Creek to Support Down Syndrome Awareness Month: BIG giveaway, 15% sales donated Share on X
Big Giveaway, Featured Posts, 15% Sales Donation
For the month of October we will be running a month long giveaway. It’s a big one! It will include: two connect-a-stretchy bands, balloon ball, bean bags, drawstring bags, and streamers of your choice. MSRP: $145.00
We will also be giving 15% of our sales for the month of October to a local group, called Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks.
Founded in 2006, the DSGO is an organization made up of a committed group of parents, professionals and other interested parties dedicated to creating an extensive network of support for individuals with Down syndrome and those who love and serve them in Southwest Missouri.
It is our goal to become the leading resource of Down syndrome information for new and expectant parents, students, healthcare professionals, educators and all Southwest Missouri citizens.
Our mission is to help individuals with Down syndrome become successful by providing support and education to loving families. We also are striving to bring awareness to early intervention services, promote inclusive education, highlight appropriate medical services, encourage quality employment opportunities and advocate for community awareness and acceptance.
We invite you to explore all that we offer and to join us in advancing the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome.
This brought tears to my eyes Janet. How poignant to think of your sweet little nephew and how he is missed.
Dear Janet,
Thank you for sharing memories of your sweet little nephew, Brandon. He was so beautiful and so loved during his short life. Thank you for honoring Brandon by raising awareness of the work of DSGO and for supporting the ways this group helps individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
Sending love to you and all of Brandon’s family,
Margaret