It’s not a death sentence or a disease. It’s just different. And I would not change a thing
Aproud mum has hailed her young son, who has Down’s Syndrome, and says his condition has not stopped him bringing joy to her family.
Diana Bowden’s son Leithen was diagnosed with Down’s at nine days old.
Today, 10 years later, Diana is urging parents to be told their child might have Down’s to find out more about the condition.
Speaking on the eve of Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week, Diana said: “I think every family should have a Leithen. He’s brought so much joy to our lives and he’s clever, funny, kind and loving, so people shouldn’t be quick to judge until they have the facts.”
Leithen, now 10, was born with three holes in his heart, a heart murmur and a twisted bowl. It was then that the Down’s was diagnosed.
Diane, 36, of Huntly, Aberdeenshire, said: “Everything was normal until I took Leithen home. He had trouble feeding, his muscle tone for suckling was weak and he’d fall asleep. He was also badly jaundiced and vomiting bright green bile.
“I was worried sick. His surgery was a success and to hear everything that was wrong was shocking, but no- one had mentioned Down’s Syndrome.
“When they told me, I was a bit shocked, but to be honest it didn’t make that much difference to me.
“I would do what I had to do. It wasn’t a big deal. I was totally in love with my baby and nothing could have changed that.”
But a huge learning curve lay ahead. And Diane, a former nursery nurse, had no idea what to expect.
She said: “Even feeding Leithen was different. We had to use bottles with really long teats which were much softer and used for babies with cleft palates, but even then, feeding Leithen took ages.
“But soon we were coping and life was good. I had loads of support from family and friends and I think that’s so important.
“Leithen was growing into a lovely