3/21 Nat'l Downs Syndrome Awareness Day

[CousinRicky]

Downs Syndrome is the presence of a 3rd copy of chromosome 21.  So 3/21 has been chosen as the day to bring awareness.  Not quite as tasty as Pi day, 3/14, but a worthy day. Some people wear crazy socks or mismatched socks to raise awareness  http://www.fox10tv.com/story/28562576/wear-crazy-socks-for-world-down-syndrome-day

[GaUSFBull]

Is that your little guy, BB?  Cute kid. 

We have a little girl with Downs in my wife's side of the family.  Sweetest little girl in the world.  

[CousinRicky]

24 minutes ago, GaUSFBull said:

Is that your little guy, BB?  Cute kid. 

We have a little girl with Downs in my wife's side of the family.  Sweetest little girl in the world.  

Yep, that's our grandson. He's a joy. We were all scared and confused when he came into this world and now we can't imagine him being anything other than he is.  

[charsibb]

Honest question here. For the third chromosome variation to remain in the gene pool, it must carry some ecological advantage, any idea what it is? For example, the same variation that causes sickle-cell also provides protection against malaria.

 

[CousinRicky]

2 hours ago, charsibb said:

Honest question here. For the third chromosome variation to remain in the gene pool, it must carry some ecological advantage, any idea what it is? For example, the same variation that causes sickle-cell also provides protection against malaria.

 

From my limited knowledge this is just something that pops up during development. There aren't "carriers" and doesn't run in families. 1 in 700, last time I looked a couple of years ago, are born this way.  Our little guy has been fortunate so far. There can be so many physical issues that go along with it - heart problems, vision, hearing, leukemia, etc - but he has had no serious issues yet.  Fingers crossed.  He knows his letters and numbers 1 - 9. His vocabulary is growing daily it seems. So we are grateful.  But still not walking and doesn't eat solid food.  He'll walk eventually so these are minor things in the grand scheme of things.

[charsibb]

1 in 700 is pretty high for it to not have some ecological advantage. Wonder what it is? Certainly it comes with a social disadvantage, and efforts to eliminate it consciously haven't worked

[Skingraft]

I love that little guy... he's one of the sweetest kids I've ever known

[CousinRicky]

1 hour ago, charsibb said:

1 in 700 is pretty high for it to not have some ecological advantage. Wonder what it is? Certainly it comes with a social disadvantage, and efforts to eliminate it consciously haven't worked

Could be the opposite.  As Skingraft said, he's the sweetest kid and have heard the same about others with Down Syndrome.  Maybe we can learn something from them.

And my wife just corrected me.  I should know better. lt is Down Syndrome, no 's'.

[Brad]

I gotta feeling Mrs. Bourbon often works overtime.

[CousinRicky]

9 hours ago, Brad said:

I gotta feeling Mrs. Bourbon often works overtime.

Only for the last 34 years.  Our friends refer to her as Saint Mrs Bourbon.