And He Walks…

Determined.

Happy.

Excited.

The amount of effort an individual has to learn and to practice to get himself upright and mobile is a monumental milestone.

Hypotonia, or low muscle tone affects Noah’s whole body including his facial muscles. Walking is a product of almost 2 years of daily therapy and practice and lots and lots of cheering. Noah learned how to get up, to push himself forward and to balance himself so that he can go and play with his kuya and the other kids he sees.

He has a collection of bumps and bruises in varying colors of pink, blue and violet and he wears them proudly like a scout with his hard-earned merit badges.  When we are out, he is a vagabond dressed in a jacket and joggers roaming the malls beaming at strangers as if saying “LOOK AT ME!! LOOK WHAT I CAN DO!”

Each step is a milestone for Noah.

And you know what’s even more awesome? February is Down Syndrome Consciousness Month.

During our first Happy Walk, We marched with and for Noah while he was in his stroller looking out and around him.

I told Dan the other day that Noah will be walking in this year’s Happy Walk. It has only been 2 years but  we have come so far ever since we found out about Noah’s diagnosis and how we all began our journey into special needs.

In those 2 years we have celebrated every little step Noah took and we we can’t wait where his next happy steps will take us.

To know more about the upcoming celebrations and campaigns for Down Syndrome Consciousness Month check out my friend Mish’s mega post here. Mish is also posting everyday about Ds this whole month.