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We're on Your Side: Group Gives Support to Families
by Maria Trombetta
Children swarm around a spraying water feature in Howarth Park, enjoying a hot sunny day in June, while their mothers spread out a small feast across four blankets. The kids run back and forth, creating a constant cyclone of sunscreen streaks, bathing suits in disarray and lost flip-flops. The group, which fluctuates between eight to 12 women, starts chatting about long nights in the hospital, struggles with pneumonia, heart conditions and specialty doctors. Between bites of watermelon, these mothers share information on how to raise a child with Down syndrome.
Sonoma County Down Syndrome Support was organized by Gloria Huerta in 1994 as an informal way to bring people together through fun stuff like bowling and parties. They now meet once a month, usually on Fridays, to provide a time for families to get to know each other and learn new things.
"We are dealing with different issues," explains Huerta, who has a daughter, Gloria Jr., with Down syndrome. "We need the fellowship of being together."
People join the group mainly by word of mouth. Other members will see someone with a child that has Down syndrome and invite him or her to the next meeting. It is a way for people to swap ideas and resources, and to create a community. What started with three families has now grown to reach out to more than 65.
"We want the kids to be together," says Diane Hobaugh, who has worked in a leadership role with the group since 2005. "We charter a path through education...pass on things we learned, connections to services. We need support."
The group is affiliated with the National Down Syndrome Society, and is sponsored locally by Becoming Independent, a nonprofit that promotes community inclusion and participation for people with disabilities. Hobaugh, Huerta and other members of the group work each year to put on a giant fundraiser in Sonoma County called "The Buddy Walk." It is part picnic, part raffle, and a short one-mile walk through the park. In 2005, the Sonoma County Buddy Walk raised $21,000 to go towards local programs, advocacy, and research for people with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk is also a chance to increase public knowledge of Down syndrome, and promote the potential of those who have it.
Huerta knows all about the kind of amazing things a Down syndrome child can do. Her daughter is now 20 years old, works at Mary's Pizza and a plant nursery, takes Polynesian dance and is full of spirit.
"She has taught me so much on how to be a better person," Huerta says. "[How to] stop judging people... love, forgiveness."
Huerta believes that children with Down syndrome are here to teach their parents these lessons.
"It is a blessing. I'm not saying it's not hard. You don't take life for granted."
Sonoma County Down Syndrome Support has a "Hope Basket" program that directly supports new parents. Group members deliver gifts of new pajamas and children's books to the parents in the hospital, while offering emotional support and guidance. They delivered eight new baskets last year. They also put on a dance for teenagers with Down syndrome, run regular Mom's Night Out events and recently started a Dad's Bowling Night. All of these activities help people connect, relax and form a community. Both English and Spanish speakers attend many of the gatherings in order to reach more families and help pass information along.
"This group started with me loving Gloria," Huerta says. "I never thought it would be this huge."
The 3rd annual Buddy Walk takes place at Howarth Park in Santa Rosa from 9 a.m. to 2p.m. on October 6, 2007.
For more information on Sonoma County Down Syndrome Support, visit their website at www.sonomacountydownsyndromesupport.org
Read about Gloria Huerta's life in this month's "My Story".
If you would like to profile a support group in your area, please contact us at content@fulcrum-magazine.com