Children like Sara have very distinctive characteristics that are easily recognized at birth but confirmed by a simple blood test (chromosome analysis) where an extra chromosome (21) is identified.

These children are often born with heart defects of varying degrees and digestive tract disorders requiring surgery and add to the stress of parents who are already trying to come to terms with the actual fact that their newborn infant is not the same as their previous children or to be more direct, abnormal.

We find many alternative and kinder descriptive adjectives for Down syndrome such as special needs and educationally challenged, but indeed one must never avoid the real challenges that these children face. If they have been lucky to escape the major defects such as heart problems, they have many other problems that make their first years a struggle, requiring much support from a loving family, access to full medical (pediatric) care and a society that understands and accepts them.

If for example, the parents of a Down syndrome child ignore his/her health issues, or do not understand the importance of regular visits to their pediatrician, the child will have a far greater challenge in reaching his/her milestones, already delayed by the mere fact of having Down syndrome. Ear infections are common in these children due to their narrow ear canals and subtle immune deficiencies. If untreated, the child's development will be even more compromised by deafness and greater speech defects than are already present.

Sara is nine years old. Like all children she loves to laugh, play, sing and dance. Sara has a sister Lara aged 11 and brother Riyad 10 years old. She joins in most of the daily activities of her siblings and in many ways she is no different.

However, Sara has Down syndrome and is different! Nowadays, most people have come into contact, directly or indirectly with an adult or child like Sara. Sadly we are still a little behind in our understanding, acceptance and integration of children like Sara into our society here in the Kingdom. Great progress has been made, and by recognizing World Down Syndrome Day we will no doubt reach a greater level of that progress.

Sara is a happy child and has faced many small challenges along the way. She was lucky to escape the added obstacles of heart disease but will remain on medication for her thyroid gland, which if not treated would have further compromised her mental and physical development. She had grommets (tiny tubes) inserted in her ears to assist in draining the fluid that was gathered there and had her tonsils and adenoids removed to reduce her failure to thrive due to lack of sleep (sleep apnea ) caused by enlarged tonsils and adenoids with increased infection causing regular sore throats and poor intake of food. The first three years of her life encountered regular visits to her pediatrician. She fought infections and needed her nebulising machine to calm her "asthma" like reaction to many things from tiny amounts of dust to mosquito repellent sprays. She needed a lot of loving care, little bit more than the normal child.

This loving care has helped Sara develop into a beautiful little girl, full of energy and enthusiasm. She is blessed in abundance by being a pupil at our Jeddah Help Center, where a holistic approach to education and training has provided Sara with the perfect environment to reach her very own goals at her very own pace!