Doctor Tells Mom 'I'm Sorry' When 1 Twin Born with Down Syndrome but Other Isn't
When Nicola Bailey, 32, went into labor at 33 weeks, she and her husband, Todd, were relieved when the doctors told them that both twins, Harper and Quinn, were alive and healthy.
But when those same doctors came to her only 30 minutes after delivery, they delivered some news that was followed by, “I’m really sorry.”
One of her baby girls was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
After apologizing, the medical staff gave the couple brochures and booklets filled with negative messages about the condition which left them scared and confused.
“But as soon as I saw them both my heart just melted. They were both so beautiful,” Nicola said.
That was the moment that she decided to not let her daughter’s diagnosis become a negative thing; She was going to change the narrative.
The staff at the hospital may have been “sorry” about the diagnosis, but Nicola was — and is — not. She was choosing to love and cherish her daughter for who she is, and not let the information from brochures set the tone for their lives.
She has even started sharing her family’s story on her blog and social media to spread the positive side of the story.
“I’m definitely an ambassador for the ‘there’s nothing down about’ movement, as I’m a strong believer of that if we make the condition a positive thing then hopefully it’s a step forward to accepting people’s differences in this world,” she wrote.
While she chooses to focus on the positive parts of her daughter’s diagnosis, that doesn’t mean she is void of all hardships.
Both twins were watched carefully by medical professionals since they were born prematurely, but Harper had two holes in her heart which is common with babies with Down syndrome. Luckily, one of the holes improved on its own so she will not need surgery until she is older.
She will also need more developmental therapy than Quinn, but Nicola said she is prepared to do everything possible to help her daughter succeed in life.
“I’m hoping the rest of our journey can stay as positive as it has been so far,” Nicola wrote. “Harper is such a beautiful baby girl, who has achieved so much in her little life and I am sure she going achieve so much more. I’m currently one proud mama.”
Nicola has sought support through different twin baby groups, but says that seeing other twin moms is “hard” because she knows her daughters’ bond will be so different, yet so special.
The two sisters have already started to develop that special bond. “They both light up when they’re around each other and are looking at each other more and more,” Nicola told SWNS.
The future for the Bailey family will definitely be a wild ride, but as long as they choose to focus on the positive side of things they will continue to thrive.
“I can’t wait to continue to watch them both grow,” she said. “Our family is unique and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
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