Hard-Working Parents Need Government Grant For Help With Down Syndrome Child

by Jean Hawker
(Fall River, WI, USA)

My son and his wife are high school sweethearts. They were together for more than nine years before they decided to get married. Once married, they opted to not have children immediately, but rather, obtain a home and make a good environment for their child/children when they decided it was time.

Now they're badly in need of a government grant or any other assistance to help with their Down syndrome child.

Unfortunately, my daughter-in-law has a physical problem that was not detected early in her first pregnancy. The first daughter died in the womb due to a blood clot in the umbilical cord. She was almost eight months along, and Kaitlyn was gorgeous! We buried her, with lots of emotion and love.

My son and his wife decided to try again. This time my daughter-in-law knew she had the problem, and had to give herself shots in the stomach three times a day to fight off the blood clotting disease she now knew she had. Six months into the pregnancy, the doctors found heart problems with the baby.

Because of these problems, it was 90% probable the baby would have Down syndrome. My son and his wife decided not to do the test to determine Down for sure, feeling this was their child and would be loved regardless of any disability.

Caydence was born with Down syndrome. She is a beautiful child and loved more than God would have ever imagined. However, because of her heart condition, my daughter in law had to quit her job to care for Caydence. She cannot go to daycare since she has a feeding tube.

So, bottom line, my son is working three or more jobs trying to finance himself, his wife, and his adorable daughter. Their house is in need of repair, roof, etc, which, if they could both work would have been handled.

Because of their age when they bought the house, they were required to get the PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance), which involves a huge monthly payment. Now, because of the economy, they're not able to have the home assessed above the 20% needed to rid themselves of the PMI payment.

During all of this, Columbus, WI, where they live, had a major flood last year. This affected their home. My son, always resourceful and optimistic, cleaned and dried his home alone.

I am doing this because of my love, and respect for how they're handling everything. They need financial help, not for Caydence as much as personal finances because of Caydence.

There is only so much anyone can handle, and because they've struggled for years, I need someone to help them. Unfortunately, financially I am not capable.

Please, consider them as a candidate for a grant! Anything would be appreciated. A government grant or any form of assistance would be so helpful.