Harrison Dayton loves his meals and toys, however his dad and mom bear in mind his time within the neonatal intensive care unit all too nicely.”We’d shake him and be like, ‘Come on, take a breath’ — simply listening to his crying and never having the ability to maintain him the primary day,” stated Wendy Dayton, Harrison’s mother.The two-and-a-half-year-old was born at 33 weeks and weighed simply over three kilos at start. He was recognized with trisomy 21, also referred to as Down syndrome, one thing that was uncharted territory for his household.”To be trustworthy, I used to be devastated,” stated Wendy, reflecting on the prognosis. “I did not know what our lives had been going to seem like.”The Daytons aren’t any strangers to hospital visits. On Mom’s Day of 2024, Harrison suffered a medical setback that left him intubated for 13 days.”I felt hopeless,” stated Wendy. “The following morning, I had a dialog along with his physician and requested, ‘Am I going to lose my son?'”However issues took a flip for the higher this previous fall, when Harrison took his first steps. In April, he could possibly be seen working towards strolling with a bodily therapist.The Daytons are embracing new adventures as they put together to journey to New York Metropolis subsequent week for the Nationwide Down Syndrome Society Instances Sq. Presentation, the place Harrison’s picture might be displayed on a jumbotron.Wendy says it is vital that Harrison be featured on display screen as a result of “there is not a variety of illustration of kids with Down syndrome.””It is such a tough journey for him, now he is there,” stated Wendy. “He is pleased, and he seems to be nice and wholesome, and it is simply really wonderful.”Regardless of their challenges, this household is navigating parenthood one of the best ways they know the way — by studying from their children daily.”He is a traditional child,” stated Jake Dayton, Harrison’s dad. “We’re elevating him the identical approach we raised any baby.””He is made us extra empathetic and extra affected person,” Wendy added. “You take a look at life in another way with him in your life.”
Harrison Dayton loves his meals and toys, however his dad and mom bear in mind his time within the neonatal intensive care unit all too nicely.
“We’d shake him and be like, ‘Come on, take a breath’ — simply listening to his crying and never having the ability to maintain him the primary day,” stated Wendy Dayton, Harrison’s mother.
The two-and-a-half-year-old was born at 33 weeks and weighed simply over three kilos at start. He was recognized with trisomy 21, also referred to as Down syndrome, one thing that was uncharted territory for his household.
“To be trustworthy, I used to be devastated,” stated Wendy, reflecting on the prognosis. “I did not know what our lives had been going to seem like.”
The Daytons aren’t any strangers to hospital visits. On Mom’s Day of 2024, Harrison suffered a medical setback that left him intubated for 13 days.
“I felt hopeless,” stated Wendy. “The following morning, I had a dialog along with his physician and requested, ‘Am I going to lose my son?'”
However issues took a flip for the higher this previous fall, when Harrison took his first steps. In April, he could possibly be seen working towards strolling with a bodily therapist.
The Daytons are embracing new adventures as they put together to journey to New York Metropolis subsequent week for the Nationwide Down Syndrome Society Instances Sq. Presentation, the place Harrison’s picture might be displayed on a jumbotron.
Wendy says it is vital that Harrison be featured on display screen as a result of “there is not a variety of illustration of kids with Down syndrome.”
“It is such a tough journey for him, [and] now he is there,” stated Wendy. “He is pleased, and he seems to be nice and wholesome, and it is simply really wonderful.”
Regardless of their challenges, this household is navigating parenthood one of the best ways they know the way — by studying from their children daily.
“He is a traditional child,” stated Jake Dayton, Harrison’s dad. “We’re elevating him the identical approach we raised any baby.”
“He is made us extra empathetic and extra affected person,” Wendy added. “You take a look at life in another way with him in your life.”
