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Fiona Wilson contacted Home Truths because she had rejected her baby Charles when he was born with Down 's syndrome. But a year on, Fiona accepts she is the parent of a disabled child.
 Me and my baby: Fiona playing with Charles |
Fiona knew there was something wrong with Charles as soon as he was born. She says, "He didn't cry, he was purple, he was all hunched up. He was actually very ugly".
Fiona was fortunate in that the midwife was also a friend and very upfront about the fact that Charles had Down's Syndrome. She says that the way you are told your child has Down's can seriously effect the way you feel about that child for the rest of your life. But still, for the first 24 hours, Fiona couldn't hold Charles. She couldn't breast feed him either. One of the aspects of Down's is their lack of muscle control and Charles was unable to suckle.
 Adam bottle feeding Charles |
Her and her partner Adam's first reaction was one of complete shock. Their dream of a beautiful bouncing boy had been completely shattered and they now had to face the prospect that Charles might not be able to even walk or talk. They couldn't understand why their child had been born with Down's when all the tests during pregnancy had shown otherwise.
But what followed was concern: "When we're 90 who on earth is going to look after this child". Her primary concern was for her daughter, Ella-Rose. Fiona's initial reaction was that they were leaving Ella with a burden for the rest of her life. Adam already had experience of the effects of disability on siblings. His brother had been born handicapped and Adam had first hand experience of how horrendous it can be for the child and their families.
 Ella and Charles |
Fiona's mother's initial reaction probably didn't help either. She found it very difficult to accept, although she has since changed her mind. Her mother is in her 70's and Down's Syndrome babies of her generation were put in a home. For 6 weeks she couldn't look at Charles and blamed Fiona. She also told her that Ella-Rose's life had been ruined. Her advice to Fiona was: "leave him in the hospital". Fiona refused.
It has taken a year to get over it. Fiona realises that none of this was Charles' fault. The situation has also been helped by the fact that Charles is a loving baby. Fiona calls him "adorable". He makes everyone who comes into contact with him feel special. All this has helped Fiona to accept him.
There are still testing times ahead for Fiona and Adam. Charles is growing from an infant into a toddler and they still have yet to find out whether he will be able to walk and talk.
 Fiona, Ella and Charles out and about |
But Fiona says that it's already clear that Charles has her stubborn streak. He's a fighter. She says, "Society's going to have to accept him and they're just going to have to accept he's different to other people".
A photograph of Charles and Fiona has recently won the photography competition sponsored by Mencap
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