‘I CAN’T IMAGINE LIFE WITHOUT HIM’
LEIGH Henderson had no idea her baby son Rory had Down’s syndrome until two hours after he was born.
However, the infant became unwell and, suspecting a heart defect, doctors warned Mrs Henderson and husband Ryan that it was likely he had the condition.
The young mother from Fetterangus, Aberdeenshire, had been told that nothing in her scans caused concern.
Mrs Henderson, 31, said: ‘It was a huge shock. When Rory was born I didn’t notice anything different. After about two hours our midwife said they were concerned he had cardiac problems and thought he had Down’s syndrome.
‘We were taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and everything became a blur. It took five days to get a full diagnosis.
‘It was a very difficult time. He had open heart surgery at nine weeks but has gone from strength to strength.
‘When he was first born I worried about all the things he might not be able to do. But the fog lifted and I realised I had to be positive. He is such a happy, loving little boy. I can’t imagine life without him.’
The stay-at-home mum started a video blog on Youtube, One Lucky Mum, to give others an insight into her family life.
She said: ‘People with Down’s syndrome truly show us how to love. The thought of a world without them makes me feel very sad.’