JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Florida mother has shared how a nonprofit organization provided the support and resources she needed to care for her son, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
According to new research by the CDC, most babies born with Down syndrome are born to mothers under the age of 35.
Shannon Thomson recounted her surprise when doctors informed her of her newborn’s diagnosis moments after his birth.
Thomson and her husband had eagerly anticipated holding their healthy baby boy, Chase.
“He is all boy. He is loud, he is destructive, he is into everything, and he’s just so much fun,” Thomson said.
Chase is now one year old, a dream come true for Thomson, who had struggled to conceive.
She underwent IVF treatment at the Jacksonville Center of Reproductive Medicine and carried out a high-risk pregnancy.
Unbeknownst to her, her life would change just minutes after giving birth.
“I had an emergency C-section under general anesthesia,” Thomson said. “When I had my C-section, a nurse took two pictures of him for me. When I woke up, I looked at those pictures and I just instantly knew. No one told me, no one talked to me about it until we were discharged.”
Doctors diagnosed Chase with Down syndrome.
“At that moment, I was devastated, to be honest,” Thomson said.
Seeking answers and support, Shannon joined a Facebook group for mothers of children with Down syndrome.
Through this group, she discovered Jack’s Basket, a national nonprofit that sends resource baskets to parents of babies up to one year old with Down syndrome.
“There were a couple of toys, a onesie, a hat, books for him, and books for me,” Thomson said. “There’s so much information in there that you could find on your own, but you shouldn’t have to.”
This information gave Shannon the confidence and knowledge to care for baby Chase, who is now thriving, healthy, and bringing joy to his parents.
“This is what every mom needs when they receive this diagnosis,” Thomson said. “It gave me a sense of support that I hadn’t found.”
