Kelle Hampton has a beautiful little girl, Nella, who was born a little over two years ago. She also received a birth diagnosis. Kelle has a blog, Enjoying the Small Things. Kelle's blog is about her life. There are some references to Down syndrome but I think overall, there isn't much. She is a fabulous photographer. I was introduced to Kelle's blog when I needed it the most. Hailey had been diagnosed, we were wading through the sea of terms and medical conditions, and nervously awaiting the date for Hailey's heart surgery. I thought life was like a movie and our DVD was stuck on pause. I felt that life wasn't going to go on for us and that Down syndrome and a heart defect was going to define who we were as a family. I thought being happy or being normal wasn't going to exist. Kelle's is very unicorn and rainbows. There are times I wish I could be a little more like that. Her blog was the first I was introduced to...I had never read a blog before hers. Through her blog and the many wonderful others I found after, I realized that all my fears were just fears and not reality.
Okay...so...what did I think of "Bloom"? It was written similar to the blog page she has about Nella's birth. She is honest. She admits it isn't what she wanted...or what she thought she wanted. I think this book would be good for any new parent just receiving a diagnosis. I think a lot of new parents need to know that they aren't they only ones that have these feelings. That it is okay to mourn the baby you "thought" you were having...that it okay to lean on others and voice her fears...your heartache. To know there are so many people that do understand what you are going through and you are not alone. Did I reach acceptance as quickly as Kelle did? Nope, not by a long shot. We did, however, have the added stress of a 3 week NICU stay and the unknown of a heart defect. I put dealing with Down syndrome on the back burner for a little while because we feared for our daughter's life. It made my mourning period longer...but everyone deals with those emotions differently. She was honest and open about how things creeped up along the way even when she thought the emotion and rawness of it all was long gone. I definitely related to that.
It reminded me how grateful I am for our "net"...our family and friends that were there to help us in ways we didn't even realize at the time. How they kept us from falling when the bottom fell out of our world and how they are with us as we made it to the other side. They love our little girl (all our children) unconditionally and see them for the individuals they are.
I think her book made me reflect on our first year with Hailey. For instance, I know how I reacted to the news that Hailey has Down syndrome and how the family and friends that were at the hospital reacted but I never thought about asking how friends who weren't there reacted to the news. How they felt about everything. So I've started asking a little about that. I know one of my sister-in-laws had a hunch before the doctor told us. One of my friends was more concerned for Hailey's health (on cpap, feeding tube, heart defect) than Down syndrome, and another friend knew that we would step into the role of being Hailey's parents perfectly. I have a couple more friends that I want to discuss it with but the timing has to be just right.
There are a few things in the book that I thought, "really" after I read it but then I remembered this book is a memoir. It is her account of what happened in her life. This is not a book of fiction with made up characters and a pretend story-line. I'm not in a position to judge how someone handles earth-shattering news (or anything for that matter).
I am happy that Kelle has found a way to bring Down syndrome into the spotlight and show others that Down syndrome is something to celebrate and for most of us it is just a small part of our lives.
These pictures have absolutely nothing to do with the book...unless Hailey is practicing her writing skills for when she publishes her own book :-)
I finished Bloom the last time Levi was in the ER. It took me back to places I didn't want to go. Those awful feelings I USED to have were re-visited, and I didn't like reliving that. It was a good book, but there was a lot I didn't appreciate, too. I don't drink, so it got old reading about all the beer.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big drinker either....they like to party. It did make me relive things again. I'm always amazed how easy it can be to bring some of the emotions back.
DeleteI enjoyed Bloom too! I'm happy for Kelle's success.
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