The Precious Lives Group

Welcome to The Precious Lives Group!

When my son Max was born and diagnosed with Down syndrome, I was sent on an unanticipated rollercoaster ride of emotions. I wasn’t sure what to think or what to expect. But in the midst of all my uncertainty, I knew I had to find one thing – inspiration. People were telling me "they can go to college now…and some get married…and some drive." But knowing that these people were out in the world merely existing somewhere didn’t cut it for me. Who are these people? What are their names? What are they accomplishing? The individuals that I found blew me away and I quickly realized that their stories were much too good to keep to myself.

The Precious Lives Group was created as a source of inspiration for families who have been touched by Down syndrome. Whether this is your child or another family member…and whether this is a prenatal diagnosis or your loved one has already been born, you will no doubt be pleasantly surprised by the stories you find here. The purpose is to give families hope and inspiration; and there is much of it occurring every single day.

Odds are that Down syndrome stirred up many mixed emotions, but these feelings are completely natural when a child is (or will be) born with an extra chromosome. You are not the first family to experience these emotions and you will certainly not be the last. Indeed, there are some medical issues that can be associated with Down syndrome, and it is important to educate yourself on these issues at some point (there is no shortage of this medical information in books and on the internet; the National Down Syndrome Society and National Down Syndrome Congress websites are both great resources all around.) But there are many children with Down syndrome who do not have any major medical issues and have never spent a day in the hospital. So please don’t expect your child to have any medical issues, but be aware that they are merely at a higher risk for certain ones.

Each parent handles a Down syndrome diagnosis very differently. Family members and friends react in very different ways as well. In my case, I needed to speak to other parents and I started seeking them out immediately. I called any phone number that was given to me, emailed complete strangers across the country, and made many new friends in the process. I couldn’t talk to enough parents (and I still can’t!) But even though I felt comfortable contacting anyone and everyone, the truth is that initially, I wished that I wasn’t the one reaching out; I needed other parents to reach out to me.

So please consider The Precious Lives Group to be an extended hand of support and most importantly, a large dose of inspiration. On this site, you will find a collection of articles and videos about what people with Down syndrome are accomplishing and how they enrich the lives of those they touch. These true accounts come from all over the country and are merely gathered for you here, in one convenient place.

Inspiration is everywhere, and while there is much on this site, I’m certain that it’s not all covered here (as these stories are unfolding continuously.) So please feel free to send me an email if there are any articles or videos that should be posted.

Please remember, we cannot predict the future for ANY child. But there is much positive to focus on; people with Down syndrome continually bless and inspire others in immeasurable ways and they are accomplishing more and more wonderful things every day. There are many kids playing regular community sports and more and more adults attending college and post-secondary programs. So set your expectations high and give them time to be met.

Sincerely,

Nikki Kitzmiller

Founder, The Precious Lives Group