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My Story: When My Daughter Came Into My Life
by Gloria Huerta
Dear Friends,
Gloria Jr. is my third and youngest daughter. Born May 5th, 1982, 25 years ago. I had no idea she was going to be a Down syndrome child, as at 26 years old I was too young to ever have that happen... so they say. I awoke from surgery to find Tony (her dad) crying above my hospital bed. I asked him what was wrong and his reply was, "The doctor will be coming in to talk with you." And then he walked out the door. At first I thought he was upset that she was a girl, as we already had two daughters and he might have really wanted a son. We knew this would be our last child.
When the doctor finally came to talk with me, he asked me, "Do you know what Mongolism is?" I answered, "Yes." And then I asked him, "Isn't that called Down syndrome?"
Well, he gave me all the details and then finished up with one other question for me. This was before I even got to see her. "Do you want her? If not, we will put her in a place where she can be taken care of”.
WHAT A QUESTION!
I would not have wanted anything else in my life at that moment. I knew, right then and there, the second I saw her, it was instant love.
The things the doctor told me she would not be able to do...she did!
I don't know where to start with all the things she has accomplished in her young life. Yes, her reading and writing won't be on par with her peers, but she still tries very hard. She has grown up to be a very gifted child. I found her strengths and have made the most of them: her love of dance, friends, and family.
There are a lot of things that have happened in her life that have been hard for me to understand. Like why at 16 years old, while home alone from school due to menstrual cramps, she decided to call 911. They sent an ambulance to the house, picked her up, and then gets a ride to the hospital in Petaluma--all by herself!
Or why she goes completely numb when I am trying to correct her (like most teenagers). Or just when everything seems to be going well and she is learning more and more to not lean on me so, she does something that sets her back. At times like these I feel like we need to start all over again.
And then we move on--it's O.K.
But, for all the not-so-good times, there are much, much more wonderful, special and even emotional times in our lives together. She has such a trust in everyone that comes into her circle of life. Her love of people outshines everything she can't do. She has no problem walking up to a man or woman and letting them know how handsome or beautiful they are.
We were at a Mexican restaurant one evening, and as we were eating, a live Mariachi band was playing. Four young men came and sat down at the table next to us. Well, lo and behold, she starts up a conversation with one of them and then the others join in. As the band starts up again, Gloria goes and requests a dance from one of the guys, (who, by the way, was about my age). He did it! There she was in all her glory, as everyone else looked on, dancing and having fun. I would have never, ever done that! But that's what makes her so special. We had a wonderful time that night.
Stuff like this happens all the time, when we are together.
I have come to admire Gloria Jr. for who she is and not what I want her to become. She has taught me not to judge others by their appearance. She has shown me to be kinder to all I meet. She has given me a big lesson on forgiveness. And she has shown me to be happy everyday.
For me I see Gloria Jr. as wearing her "spiritual soul" on the outside for all to see and you know what? I want to be just like her.
"Thank you Lord, for giving me your gift of Love." My daughter, Gloria Patricia Jr.