My name is Janice Troy, and I’ve been a member of the DSA since 1997. I began publishing the newsletter for the DSA in 1999 and helped to develop the website in 2004, both of my responsibilities as PR chairman. I have a wonderful husband, Mike, and four children, Michael (10-18-91), Megan (12-24-93), Briana (5-2-97), and Christina (7-3-99). Briana is our angel with Down syndrome and has been a true blessing to our family, though I don’t think we knew or understood just how much one little girl would bless our lives.

We were told the day after she was born that she had Down syndrome and a complete AV canal defect of her heart. Honestly, we were devastated. I remember sitting in the hospital crying nonstop and thinking that this was not the way it was supposed to be. But with the constant medical attention Briana required, the Down syndrome took a “back seat” to just keeping her alive and well. Just being able to hold and care for our little girl made everything else seem insignificant.

Because she had difficulty gaining weight, we tube-fed Briana until she was five months old, when she finally reached nine pounds. She underwent successful heart surgery, though she now has moderate mitral valve regurgitation, which requires yearly check-ups with the cardiologist. Briana has also had tear-duct surgery and has Reactive Airway Disease, which was precipitated by her three-week battle with RSV pneumonia. All this within her first two years of life!

Briana’s medical problems have long since stabilized and we focus more on her education and our family as a whole. She received ECI services through Easter Seals from three months through three years. She then attended the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities at Hardy Oak Elementary when she was three and four years old. When Briana entered kindergarten, we had the opportunity to have her included in a regular kindergarten class at Hardy Oak. She spent her day in this general education setting, except for 45 minutes of reading resource and speech therapy. We have continued with the plan of a mostly inclusive educational experience for her. She now attends Wilderness Oak Elementary. She spends the majority of her day with her typical peers in the general education classroom. Because we felt that she would benefit from more intensive instruction with the special education staff, she is pulled out for reading and math! We have had tremendous support from the principal, staff, and parents at both Hardy Oak and Wilderness Oak Elementary schools! Briana loves school and all the friends that she has made! The extracurricular activities that she enjoys include karate and soccer, both with “typical” kids.

Michael, Megan, and Christina have grown up knowing that their sister has Down syndrome, and are learning first hand what that means—a person (first and foremost) who is a little slower at learning, but who loves to wrestle, joke around, give hugs and kisses and annoy them just like any other member of the family! Christina is Briana’s best buddy and her greatest teacher.

It constantly amazes me what our family has gained because of God’s special touch on our lives: True unconditional love; lifelong friendships; a wealth of knowledge; insight into the lives of educators, therapists, and physicians dedicated to helping those with disabilities; and a special bond with other families who have children with disabilities. Oh, how one little girl can bless the lives of so many!