Charlotte, "Charlie," was born in 2015 a week early. There were complications during the pregnancy and the doctors decided it was best to induce. When Charlie finally made her way into this world at 6lbs 13oz, she didn't make a single noise. We were worried, scared, and confused. The nurses began to rush in right as the doctor rushed out. When they finally got Charlie to make a noise, they handed her to me and told us they thought she had Down syndrome. It was shocking news, to say the least, but we didn't have time to focus on it; She was almost immediately whisked away to the NICU.
Charlie spent the first 17 days of her life in the NICU because she wouldn't eat. Her low muscle tone and lack of energy would cause her to just sleep endlessly. We thought she was never coming home. Then almost overnight Charlie decided to do things on her own, in her own way. She perked right up and decided it was time to leave and come home with us.
Since then Charlie has always done things her way; From playing and making new friends, participating in therapies, and attending dance classes, Charlie likes to do things independently. She loves the beach and will walk for hours across the sand or sit and splash through the waves until the sunsets. It's one of her absolute favorite things to do besides painting or playing with her sisters.
Even though we didn't know much about Down syndrome in the beginning, Charlie has shown us a completely new life that we never knew we wanted. She's brought out the best in all of us and inspires us every day to be who we truly are.
We hope that Charlie's way of thinking and her outgoing, happy personality can help guide you to be who you are meant to be also.
