The moment her eyes met mine she enveloped my soul. I instantly had a deep love for her. As her story unfolded, and we realized she had Down Syndrome, my mama heart swirled. Her bold red hair…. a gift. Her beautiful blue, almond shaped eyes…. mesmerizing. I knew we would be okay, but we would have to walk it out a bit. Grief came and went. The celebration…. quieter. The closeness…. beautiful.
As she grew, her beauty was apparent. It flowed from deep inside of her, and it affected all who met her. She walked a difficult medical road in the early days, but in the midst, she would forgive easily and take it in stride. She is a warrior for sure, with a melt your heart smile to back it all up!
These smiles! These smiles could change your whole day! She persevered in every moment. She taught us to see life in a whole new way. She and her sister had an adventurous spirit and life with them was a gift. We spent a lot of time in the car going back and forth to Children’s Hospital in Seattle, but with each visit came a new adventure.
We only focused on the upside of Shelby’s diagnosis but allowed ourselves to grieve when needed. Savannah was the best big sister and to see her warrior side come out in protection of Shelby warmed my heart in every way. She told our life story to anyone that would listen. The way she embraced it all spoke to both me and Dan, and it changed us. We were learning so much as parents, all of it calling us to live better, to be better. I would change none of it.
Everyone’s journey is different. Ours was made richer and more beautiful because of Shelby’s extra chromosome. As she approaches her teenage years, the beauty continues. Is it all easy? Heck to the no! No journey is. However, the love she gives and receives is unmatched, and we have come to know that if we model our lives around that freeness, we thrive!
In fact, our love for ALL of Shelby led us to this sweet girl…
Yuqiao Sun (Shiloh… adopted in November 2016) is our spirited, tender daughter, who just happens to have an extra chromosome as well. Double the beauty!!!!
