Down Syndrome Awareness

Hi I’m Jacob, I am 8 years old and I was born with Down Syndrome.

Did you know that I have 1 extra chromosome

No you can’t catch Down Syndrome from me

Sometimes I get tired in class

There are times I get upset, and don’t know how to express how I feel, so I hit but I don’t mean it

I’m happy that Mrs. Gaultand Mrs. Heeren help me during school

……….Mommy will explain why

Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) is a chromosomal abnormality where children are born with three copies of the 21st chromosome.

Down syndrome occurs when an individual has three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome.

People with Down syndrome may look a little different

Some may have health problems.

They learn things slower than you.

When Jacob was born he was having trouble breathing and eating.

So him and I took a ride in an ambulance to a big hospital in Chicago, where he had a shunt put in to help him get stronger for his big surgery when he was 6 months old.

Here is Jacob doing physical therapy to get stronger.

When Jacob was 6 months old he had open heart surgery to repair issues he had with his heart when he was born.

Halloween

Loves Barney

Springbreak

Halloween

Playing

He has hypotonia low muscle tone causing lower muscle strength

Jacob does a lot of therapy

Jacob likes to do sports

Jacob Loves To Travel

Cancun

Disney

Jamaica

New Jersey

Met CoachKelly - ND

In a toy magazine

Met Governor

In a galleryshow

Jacob is kind of famous

Jacob likes to be with his friends

Jacob is just like you!