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Madison’s Journey to Success
Submitted by LaJunne Redman
Our family's journey began on April 06, 1998 with a beautiful little girl named Madison who was welcomed home by her parents and siblings. When Madison was seven months old, I took her to the doctor for a checkup. During that visit, thedoctor thought she might have heard a heart murmur and sent us for testing and blood work. She said she would notify us of the results.
I was called into the doctor’s office to go over the results and it was then that we found out Madison had Down Syndrome and VSD (Ventricular Septile Heart Defect). Those words were devastating, overwhelming and sent us on an emotional roller coaster of fear! My husband and I immediately started researching. We looked for as much as we possibly could find out on the computer. PACT (Parents and Children Together), the birth to three years program, stepped in to help us with physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.
I have a wonderful job that allowed me to have Madison at work with me while she was small and to take time off for all of the therapy she needed and for the many illnesses she had. Seven months to three years passed by so quickly. Then it was time to start the transition into school. It was very hard to allow Madison to go to school at the age of three because she was so little and I felt the need to protect her. Preschool lasted for three years and then we transitioned into kindergarten. We chose to put Madison through kindergarten a second year so that she would have an opportunity to mature more socially. The school Madison attended at that time was pushing me to move her on and we were informed that holding her back would not help her catch up to kindergarten level. Madison attended kindergarten again and it was definitely the right thing to do, even though it was a very hard decision to make.
Like all parents of children with a disability, I began to
wonder if we were the only parents in our situation and if there was any one to
talk to about the feelings and emotions I was having. I so desperately wanted
to communicate with other parents going through some of the same situations and
I wanted someone to tell me that we were doing the right thing. I had a coffee
mug in my cabinet with Families Together printed on it and I pulled it out and
called the number. I was so happy to talk to others who had been where I was.
A Families Together Enrichment Weekend offered us inspiration, education,
guidance, knowledge and a compassionate ear. 
I knew that Madison wasn’t learning much and that very few papers were coming home. On December 03, 2005 I attended an Inclusion Conference in Wichita, Ks. Two of the guest speakers had children with Down Syndrome and I knew that it was a conference that I needed to attend. I learned so much and was extremely prepared for Madison’s IEP meeting that was to take place in two weeks. Madison’s safety and education became an issue in January and it was at that time we changed schools. Madison is now attending a wonderful school and her success has gone from barely knowing her colors to knowing her colors, shapes, alphabet, learning to count, writing her name all by herself, learning to read and being totally potty trained! Madison’s IEP will be renewed in December and for the very first time she will have met and accomplished all of her goals! We are so proud of her and the great part is... so is her school! Success comes when your child is seen as a child with wonderful abilities instead of disabilities and teachers, paraprofessionals and staff that have the knowledge and desire to help your child be the best that they can be and have the desire to see them succeed. Thanks so much, Families Together, for helping us in achieving our success. You have truly been a blessing!
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