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Jenna Gorey: Jenna is the best big sister ever! She makes everyone she meets smile, and makes us all better people for having her in our lives. We love you Jenna!
Jake ‘The Great’ Kadletz: There would be no way to condense into a couple sentences what this child has done for me and my family. However, the greatest gift of Jake the Great, besides his unconditional love, would be the every day reminder to live for today, in the present and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Paul Freeman: Paulie’s picture says it all. It says “Let’s celebrate life!”. Paul has survived some serious (life threatening) complications from open heart surgeries (Tetrology of Fallot) and immune deficiency. If you were to ask Paul (and he could answer), he would tell you his first residence during his 1st year and a half was the 6th floor CVICU at CHOC Children’s in Orange. Indeed, the attached picture shows us how strong he is, and how happy he is to be here. Paul has taught us all to slow down, have faith and enjoy each day. For every twist and turn life brings us, something beautiful emerges out the other end of the journey. Paul has 2 siblings (age 9 and 6) who adore him and celebrate every milestone he is just now, at age 3, finally experiencing. And yes….he has also given us the gift of gratitude. 
Emma-Jane Bustrum: Emma-Jane is too precious, and the love of our life!!! She keeps us smiling and on our toes all the time. Here is a picture of her in her flower girl dress. She is going to be in a wedding in May. She is such a ham and we love her with all our heart.
Alex Perez: Since the day Alex was born, she has opened up my mind and heart to what life is really all about. When days are busy and I forget to show those around me how much I love and appreciate them, she is always there reminding me to stop and notice a pretty flower or give a hug to someone dear to me. Alex has recently become a big sister, and is doing GREAT in that new role. We know Gabriella will grow up knowing that her big sister is special in so many ways.
Mark Ward: Mark is our only child. He is the greatest gift we could have. We cannot begin to think what life would be like without him. We are very, very proud parents!
Cade Hulder: No matter what your ability is, the love of the game brings us all together. Fourteen year old Cade Hudler is a happy, loving boy who never met a stranger! His infectious smile and outgoing personality wins him friends wherever he goes. Cade is a gift from God to all of us.
April Clark: This is a picture of April Clark at Disneyland. She is the “sunshine” in our entire family. We love her sense of humor.
Join those that have already donated $10 toward the $5,000 goal for DSAOC’s Health Care Education & Outreach Program. If we each give a little and then spread the word, we can achieve a lot for individuals with Down syndrome. Thank you!
DSAOC is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit. Your donations are tax-deductible. Donate your $10 today in celebration of World Down Syndrome Day and your loved one with Down syndrome.
Your donation will be posted on team ‘Down Syndrome Assoc of OC’ on the PCRF Half Marathon website. DSAOC’s participation in this event is funding the Health Care Education & Outreach program. You can also donate directly to DSAOC via the online donation page.
Marcus: This is my 12 year old son Marcus. His determination and love of life, people, and all living things, along with his ability to overcome many obstacles in his life, and have no judgment on people has been an inspiration to me and others.
Kelsey Welch Rupocinski: Even my dreams can come true! I met my husband at work (Desert Haven,) in Lancaster, California. We have been married for 2 years now and are as happy as can be!
Ayden Sells: When some people look at Ayden, they see a child with Down syndrome. When I look at Ayden, I see how he has helped me realize that there is more to life than intelligence, beauty, money and perfection. He has also taught me that our life together has been less about me helping him reach his potential, but rather about him helping me reach mine.
Daniele Lichtenwalter: Daniele lives lightheartedly, she loves wholeheartedly, and she laughs from the depths of her heart! Daniele may have been given one extra chromosome, but that extra chromosome is full of Love! Daniele has truly been a blessing from above and is a great sister! If many years from now her friends and family can say the world is a better place because Daniele was here, then she will have succeeded where many “gifted individuals” have failed! Sometimes we think that Daniele’s mission in life is to fill those around her with affection, love & joy!
Throughout the day today, DSAOC will post pictures and words to our Blog and Facebook from our families regarding their loved ones with Down syndrome. Thank you to all who submitted and shared your children with us in celebration of this special day.
Isabelle Morris: This is Isabelle, ” Izzy “, our little Princess. She’s now 4 years old turning 5 in August. My husband and I knew all the while that we were having a baby with Down syndrome but we never thought of not proceeding with the pregnancy. We both had fear, but with God’s grace and the support of family and friends, we were able to provide her the best of everything she deserves. She started doing physical therapy at 2 months and 1 hour of PT once a week. Since she’s only getting 1 hour of free service
from RCOC, we have been doing exercise with her seven days a week. She started walking at 13 months, and started talking at 2 years old. She’s currently getting speech therapy at her school and she’s been doing well everyday. She loves to sing and dance and is also quite the actress, as she speaks and acts out the lines of her favorite shows. My husband tells everyone that the best part of his day is when he gets home and Izzy runs to him to give him a hug. When asked if we would change anything about her, would we? Our answer is and has always been, “No.” She has Down syndrome, but that has made her the person that we know and love so much. There is nothing that we would change because we would be so afraid to lose the person that is growing up in front of our eyes. We are so proud of her achievements and very proud to be her parents.
For around the cost of lunch and a beverage, you can show your support for DSAOC’s Health Care Education & Outreach program, which includes funding support for the CHOC Children’s Down Syndrome program.
DSAOC’s Health Care Education & Outreach program consists of: Hospital Outreach: Our Hospital Outreach program provides materials and support to hospital social workers, genetic counselors and OB/GYNs to educate them on the potential of people with Down syndrome and to help them more comfortably and accurately deliver a diagnosis. Healthcare Series Seminars: DSAOC provides health care education seminars presented by medical professionals on a variety of topics related to health care for individuals with Down syndrome. The seminars are recorded and offered to a wider audience of parents and professionals through a video podcast library on our website. CHOC Children’s Down Syndrome Program: DSAOC formed an alliance with CHOC Children’s in 2009 to create the CHOC Children’s Down Syndrome Program, a pediatric clinic serving 240 children with Down syndrome per year. This program is a community-based clinic bridging services and clinical specialists in Down syndrome to help ensure that health care needs are being met.
Your donation will support DSAOC’s team at the upcoming PCRF Marathon, which directly supports the Health Care Education & Outreach program. You can also participate on the DSAOC team by visiting the registration page.
If you have questions, please contact Kellie Perez at kperez@dsaoc.org or call the DSAOC Center at (714) 540-5794.
Families and their loved one’s with disabilities stood beside some local support organizations and other members of the community at the Just Budget Rally that took place today in Huntington Beach.
For more information and the latest news, visit www.handsacrossoc.org
“Glee” star Lauren Potter is the face of a new nationwide “Disable Bullying” campaign with local roots that aims to combat the widespread behavior against people with disabilities.
For more information on the “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes” report visit www.abilitypath.org.
Wonderful story by OC Register Columnist, David Whiting, featuring our friends and self-advocates, Sean McElwee and Lauren Potter.
DSAOC does not claim the skills to solve California’s budget problems. For any State program, issues of oversight, fraud, waste, etc. are always complex. Nevertheless, proposals now being considered, which reflect indiscriminate slashing of the budgets of programs whose beneficiaries are in critical need, must be met with a defense of the value and criticality of the services being provided. Many of these services benefit directly the Down syndrome community, and have afforded high value for the tax dollars being spent.
DSAOC will stand with those who resist indiscriminate slashing of these programs. To this end, we have lent our support to the Just Budget Rally taking place in Huntington Beach on Tuesday, February 22, 2011, from 10 a.m. to noon.
See the following link for more details: https://www.handsacrossoc.org/
Here is a wonderful video from our DSA friends in Central Texas (DSACT).
A great story about a Minot, ND family who will soon be adding another member to their loving home. With the help of Reece’s Rainbow, Nathan, a boy from Serbia who has Down syndrome, will become a Burkhard.
This will be the family’s second adoption, and their third child with Down syndrome. Their two older children who do not have Down syndrome are thrilled to have such wonderful siblings.
For the second year in a row, DSAOC is a participating charity in the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation’s (PCRF) Cinco de Mayo Half Marathon on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at the Irvine Spectrum Center.
Your donations, pledges and sponsorships toward team ‘Down Syndrome Assoc of OC’ will help raise funds for DSAOC’s Health Care Education & Outreach program, which includes funding support for the CHOC Children’s Down Syndrome Program. Your registration fees go directly to supporting PCRF’s worthy cause.
Did you know that on average one in every 95 children with Down syndrome will develop leukemia, compared with a rate of one in every 2,000 in the typical population? While the vast majority of children with Down syndrome will never develop leukemia, the disease remains one of the major health care concerns for our community.
Support PCRF and DSAOC today by registering to run or walk, or by giving a tax-deductible contribution toward this effort. Visit DSAOC’s homepage at www.dsaoc.org and click on the link to register/donate.
If you have questions, please contact Kellie Perez at kperez@dsaoc.org or call the DSAOC Center at (714) 540-5794. Thank you!
