Oh hey you!
I have been pondering for weeks about how and what to write to you. After all, we are still fairly new at this, the beginning of our journey.
I can close my eyes and vividly see you sitting in that hospital room. You are broken, tired and feeling things that you never knew were possible after the birth of your new baby.
You have a tidal wave of emotions that are impossible to process, and you are not the only one. Glen (our rock) is not coping, and the girls are not understanding why we can't just go home, and all be together.
Those days were chaos, you have turned on auto pilot and the next two years this darling little girl will show you time and time again why it was all worth it.
Some days are still hard, still so many unknowns. But let me break down for you what I have learnt so far and why everything will be ok- better than ok, a life of immense joy.
I remember when Louise finally flew in from Brisbane and you broke down in that café about what you had done to the girls. Life was already hectic, living rural comes with those challenges. You were already spread thin in this journey of motherhood, how were we going to handle doctor's appointments, therapists etc. On top of all of that?
I will tell you what you have done.
You have given your daughters the greatest gift they will receive in this lifetime. They have learnt to love without limits, you have embedded them with the ability to accept and include anyone and everyone that crosses their paths, you have gifted them with the kindness we as mothers hope to instill in our children by the time they reach adulthood, just a decade earlier.
Mia, Lyla and Stell absolutely adore Marlee and watching their bond grow and strengthen is one of our proudest moments as their Mum.
Please do not beat yourself up about the grief that is overwhelming you. It is less about Marlee’s diagnosis and more about the fact that this wasn’t what you had planned for. You are in shock, I know, and when those tears fall, let them. It is therapeutic to cry- we are only human at the end of the day.
One of the biggest lessons I have learnt in the last 2 years, is to not get too consumed or caught up in Marlee’s therapies. Marlee has and will continue to do everything in her own time, her sisters are her best teachers.
Make sure you reach out to as many organisations, mother’s groups and other T21 parents as you can- we are all better when we walk through this together.
I could literally talk forever about all the do’s and don'ts, but this letter is not the place for that, plus it honestly is no different to raising a child without T21 anyway.
This last two years, yes, she is almost 2! Have opened our hearts and minds and that of everyone that Marlee meets. She is our little crawling ray of sunshine. Marlee has an innate ability to draw people to her, anyone that meets her instantly falls in love!
Although we are not too far into this journey, I can assure you that life with Marlee is an absolute blast! There is not a day that goes by where she doesn’t make us laugh and keep us smiling from sunup to sundown. She also gives the BEST cuddles and kisses.
She absolutely loves music, dancing, Sesame Street and The Wiggles (so get prepared). She constantly amazes me at how clever and cheeky she is, albeit very stubborn which I think she got from us. I am so so blessed that this little girl chose us to be her Mumma.
Please remember, you are strong, resilient and very very blessed. These first few weeks are tough but I am living proof that we make it to the rainbow, and for that, I thank you. Be kind to yourself. What you are feeling is completely natural and like everything in life, this too shall pass.
Just enjoy that gorgeous baby girl-
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
LOVE FROM YOU X
Written by Lisa,
Ambassador Marlee's Mum
