Girls for Truth

On October 4th, I will be participating in The Buddy Walk as part of Team Braden and would love for those of you who are in the Savannah area to join us! If you are not local to the Savannah area, please click here to find a Buddy Walk in your area.

The Buddy Walk is an annual walk and festival designed to promote awareness and acceptance of people with Down Syndrome. There will be live music and entertainment, game booths, food and fun for all ages. Registration begins at 8:30am with the one lap Walk at 10:30am, and the festival lasting until 2pm.

Braden’s parents, Kaleigh and Ron Perry, are forming a team to walk for Braden. Normal team member individual donation price is $12. It is tax-deductible, and includes a meal ticket and a t-shirt. Even if you are unable to pay the full team member price, they encourage you to come and walk with us. They would like as many of you as possible to join us in support of Braden and all individuals with Down Syndrome.
If you would like to be a member of Team Braden, please let us know as soon as possible. They will need to know the number walkers from your family and their t-shirt sizes. Please contact me for more information…alli@girlsfortruth.com

The Perry Family

The Perrys are very dear to me. Ron and Kaleigh are great parents, diligent servants, and are always seeking to glorify God. Kaleigh was the first woman in our church to take me under her mentoring wing! She is a wonderful Bible teacher and godly example for me to follow.

Here, she shares her family’s story:

When Braden was born and we first received the news that he probably had Down Syndrome, we were understandably overcome with a torrent of emotions. We were shocked and anxious as our newborn baby lay under an oxygen tent in the ICU recovering from a collapsed lung. We were worried about his physical health – in addition to the collapsed lung; the doctor informed us that Braden had a heart defect that would require open heart surgery before six months of age. But we were also overwhelmed by the thought of raising a child with a disability. We knew very little about Down Syndrome – just the factual information we learned in high school biology (Down Syndrome is caused by three copies of the 21st chromosome) and that when we were in school, kids with Down Syndrome were in classrooms far from our own receiving their special education.
It was hard; trying to sort through all the stuff – medical information, doctors visits and BILLS, a list of things to do like apply for Social Security (denied) and Medicaid for children with disabilities (which we have recently been denied after reapplication), and all kinds of therapy and political terms. I remember how all of the short-bus type jokes I had heard over the years came flooding back to me. They suddenly held meaning, and were not simply thoughtless punch lines but instead potent weapons aimed at belittling and demeaning my child’s worth. My child, my little innocent baby boy; and he was being made fun of even before he was born.
One might think that we had a million questions. In truth I can say that there were some, but not as many as might be supposed. Instead I felt somewhat lost and very, very lonely. It’s not that we didn’t trust God – we never once doubted His goodness or His Sovereignty in ours and Braden’s lives; and it’s not that we did not receive lots of love and prayers from everybody; it’s just that our hearts were breaking for our little boy. The one question most prominent on our minds then and now – “Will our baby boy ever truly be accepted?”

The Buddy Walk is designed to promote awareness. It’s not that we need to raise awareness that there are people with Down Syndrome – everybody knows that. The problem is, in general, that people’s expectations of a person with Down Syndrome is depressingly low. They don’t know what I didn’t know before Braden was born. What I long for everyone to know. What I want everyone to understand so that they can see my child’s worth and potential.

They don’t know (and you might not know) that:
- Many people with Down Syndrome graduate from high school with a regular diploma (not a special education diploma).
- Many people with Down Syndrome attend community colleges and tech schools and even receive degrees!
- Some people with Down Syndrome drive, live on their own, and even marry.
- Some people with Down Syndrome have IQ’s within “normal” range and are therefore not considered mentally disabled.
- All people with Down Syndrome have a lot to offer to the Kingdom of God and the community.

It is true that not all persons with Down Syndrome are able to achieve these successes, but that is not my point. I only list those accomplishments in hopes of raising the bar of expectations for people with Down Syndrome.
You see, right now at age two, Braden is accepted. In fact, he seems to be the center of attention quite often. And why not? He’s adorable! He has the cutest little face and a contagious laugh. But what happens when he grows up and that charming toddler smile becomes that of a man? And when he’s ten years old and a grade or two behind his peers and can’t quite run as fast during playground games? Will he be as accepted then? I am forced to ponder these thoughts; and the questions I didn’t know to ask when he was born are multiplying.
Sometimes I feel confident in the opportunities Braden will have and am optimistic about his future. But other times, I am discouraged and worried and heartbroken for my baby. My parental concerns and emotions may fluctuate, but two things remain constant. One, we need to continue to spread real awareness of Down Syndrome. And two, we (Ron, me (Kaleigh), Carson, Braden and Rylan) need the support and encouragement of our family and friends. The Buddy Walk offers an opportunity for both. Will you join us?

Sincerely,
Ron, Kaleigh, Carson, Braden and Rylan Perry

Because disability must never be equated with inability.

“For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14

Posted September 27th, 2008 under Uncategorized. Tags: Buddy Walk, Down Syndrome, Down Syndrome awareness
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