Lanzarote Relocation

The following article has been very kindly donated by one of the newest additions to Lanzarote – Caroline, whose daughter Emily has Down’s Syndrome. Caroline is looking to meet parents in a similar situation in order for all to offer support, and swap stories and advice. To contact Caroline, contact us here

I have been given this opportunity to help others cope and enjoy their lives with their very special children, I am not an expert, but can tell you about my experiences and the life that we have enjoyed with our daughter.

Emily was born on the 28th February  1991, I was 25 years old and never in my wildest dreams expected my life to change in the way it did that day. I had a very quick labour, which I now know goes with having a child with Down Syndrome and she was born very blue, they rushed her to an incubator and said nothing other than she was early and sometimes babys are blue with a quick labour.

The next few hours roll into one, we were took to a private room and told our daughter had Down Syndrome and that they were more surprised than me because of my age, No one was more surprised than me, I didnt smoke or take drugs, I was a good girl, these things happen to other people, not us, we were good people.

They said they would come back the next day to see if we wanted to keep her or not, she was my baby, I had given birth to her, but all of a sudden she became an alien to me.
We took her home and life was never the same again, from health visitors to physios to portage helpers, I thought my life was over.

As they say Life goes on and the first years were very hard, from fighting to keep her in a normal school to the prejudice I came across from other people.

A lot has happened over the past 17 years, I could write a book about the ups and downs of Down Syndrome, but at the end of the day Emily has brought  so much joy to us and everyone who meets her, she is cheeky, very funny and mad on boys and music, she loves clothes and shopping and going out, who said she’s not normal.

This is a poem I was given in hospital after having Emily, it says everyhing.

HEAVENS VERY SPECIAL CHILD
A meeting was held quite far from earth
its time again for another birth
said the angels to the lord above
This special child will need much love
Her progress may seem very slow
Accomlishments he may not show
And she will require extra care
from the folk she meets down there.
So lets be careful where shes sent
we want her life to be content.
Please lord, find two parents who,
will do a special job for you.
They will not realise right away,
the leading role they,re asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
comes stronger faith and richer love.
And soon they,ll know the privilege given
in caring for this gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge so meek and mild
is Heavens very special child.
Anon.

I am not religious and these comments are mine, everyone is different and copes in different ways, I am here for anyone, parents and relatives, if you just need to chat and share your concerns, I will try and help in whatever way I can.

I hope this page will become somewhere parents and relatives can come to, to contact others in the same situation and maybe make some good friends along the way. Our children aren’t aliens from another planet, they are just different, but who wants to be all the same, our kids can teach others so much about acceptance and kindness, that kids of today dont seem to have.

I will be writing on this page regularly with news of how Emily is doing in her new life in Lanzarote and hope others will join me and tell us all how there kids are doing, however small of an achievement it is, it’s so much bigger for them.

Anyone can contact me, whether their child has Down Syndrome or another disability, all are welcome, hopefully in time we can start a club and have events to help our kids.

My name is Caroline and I am 42 years old and one hell of a mother, even if I say so myself, I bet there are more mums just like me out there, who have stories to tell, let’s show Lanzarote what a good job we are doing .

The photos are of Emily with her friend Rachael and her sister Gemma.

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1. Millie’s Diary – Sept 20th 2008 From the day Em was born she became my lifes ambition to make her as NORMAL as possible, I couldnt accept I had , had...