Embracing Differences: Navigating Down Syndrome In Kashmir

Srinagar: In September 2015, Rizwan Ahmad and Nargis welcomed a baby boy after seven years of marriage. The joy for their families knew no bounds. However, their initial euphoria settled into a new reality when doctors informed them about their son's Down syndrome diagnosis.

"We couldn’t believe it,” said Rizwan, 44, a resident of North

Kashmir’s Bandipora district. "The doctors mentioned that while late marriage can be a factor, there are other causes of Down syndrome as well," Rizwan added.

Health experts explain that DS occurs when the fertilized egg carries three copies of Chromosome 21 instead of the usual two. Typically, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes. Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21. A medical term for having an extra copy of a chromosome is ‘trisomy.’ Down syndrome is also referred to as Trisomy 21.

This extra copy changes how the baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby. Down syndrome causes a distinct facial appearance, intellectual disability, and developmental delays. It may be associated with thyroid or heart disease.

This condition is regarded as one of the most readily identifiable neurodevelopmental genetic disorders due to its distinctive physical and cognitive characteristics, making it detectable through genetic testing.

According to studies, Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal abnormality which occurs with a frequency of 1 in 600 to 1 in 1000 newborns. Notably, World Down

Syndrome Day is celebrated on March 21st each year in recognition of people with Down’s Syndrome having three copies of chromosome 21 (21/3).

Raising a child with Down syndrome can present significant challenges. Unfortunately, due to a lack of support and resources, some families in Kashmir feel overwhelmed, leading to a heartbreaking trend of newborns being abandoned.