Vanessatiger Thu 08-Feb-18 00:13:36

I have a close relative with Down Syndrome, still a young child (5) and the prognosis isn’t looking great- challenging behaviour, hyperthyroidism, glacuoma, speech delays, difficulty with gross and fine motor skills. They are having her assessed for autism as well. said child pees and poos constantly in their trousers without any indication they have done anything until we smell or see it. We put diaper on her but she’d remove it herself. They are capable of dressing themselves when in the mood. She’s very stubborn as well and throws about 10 tantrums a day. Sometimes we don’t know why.

People who gush about their child with Down Syndrome as being special and a gift, good on you but all I can see is loads of doctor’s appointments and fighting the authorities over their rights over x and y. And dealing with a challenging child who won’t dress or undress, who would spit out food on the floor, in restaurants, at the dinner table. Who’d not respond to consequences or reward/punishment. Who’d scream out loud for something we don’t know why and let’s say all the time during the day. It’s very very challenging and it’s breaking my sibling. I’ve never seen my sibling this unhappy and this tired and this resigned about life. We love said child to pieces but the whole family wish the syndrome would go away. I’m sorry if I offended anyone with my remarks.



Will there be light at the end of the tunnel?

Will it get better? Will people with Down syndrome eventually hold down jobs, look after themselves and find love? I read on DailyMail they do (but it’s the DM). Any real life experience here?