#TeamNoah Walks!

Sometimes when a pressing issue needs to be heard, people organize themselves to walk the streets arm-in-arm so that their message is unified and amplified. At the very least, awareness is created but the real hope is that we are able to affect change.

Last Sunday, we did the very same thing. Every February, the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines holds a “Happy Walk” for Down Syndrome Consciousness Month. We walked arm-in-arm and hand-in-hand to celebrate our loved ones who rock the extra chromosome. We walked and we cheered. We were loud and proud!

We were overwhelmed when our friends and family came to support us. We were finally able to wear the Team Noah jerseys we had made last year but never wore because Noah fell ill and we couldn’t attend the Happy Walk.

I was really emotional when we attended our first Happy Walk We were trying to figure out how to move ahead as a family and the walk was an amazing and physical proof that we are not alone in our journey.  We walked with new families, who just like us were still unsure of the steps we took. But there was one thing that was sure though and that is in our journeys as families, our children were the best tour guides.  Noah is our bright and shining Northern Star.

The walk is also symbolic of us families following the footsteps of those who have blazed trails in the Down Syndrome community and have become its most ardent advocates.  It is because of them that DSAPI has grown by leaps and bounds.

Last Sunday, 1,500 (or more) of us walked. #TeamNoah counted many more friends and family members into our fold. Our steps were much more assured and much more confident. Our Northern Star walked, strutted, waved and blew kisses.

We saw Noah’s teachers during the walk too and they were all cheering on their students. Teaching is a noble profession and my heart will always be grateful for the care, concern and confidence Noah’s teachers have shown in him. Teacher Yo (in purple) and Teacher Vince (in brown) are both physical therapists who we work with.  They challenge our little boy so that he can truly achieve his full potential.

While at the walk, I saw a lot of teams holding up placards bearing messages that all essentially said  “see our children as we see them”. We all walked to show the community at large that our loved ones should be included in all aspects of society because they are not so different from you and I. Noah has Down syndrome but he is not Down syndrome. He is so much more than his diagnosis.

For our family and friends thank you so much for believing in Noah. Thank you for sharing in our struggles and for praying for and with us. Thank you for coming along with us in our journey and most of all for trusting  and loving our tour guide 🙂