A Parent Carer journey from NSPCWT's amazing Angie: 

I found out Ollie had Down syndrome on the day I gave birth. I didn't feel any way in particular as he was just my baby boy. One of my mums close friends gave me the best piece of advice to not treat Ollie any differently to how I treat my older daughter. 

The years have had many challenges that we have had to overcome from health issues to school anxieties (me not Ollie). We spent time in hospital as he had operations and I did this all as a single mum with another child at home who desperately needed me but I was so busy with Ollie (cue the mum guilt). 

But that's just a small portion of Ollie's 9 glorious years on this earth, he makes me laugh everyday. He sees the absolute best in humanity, everyone is his friend and it takes forever to go shopping because he has to say hello to everyone. He is constantly singing, dancing, playing his guitar and being a rock star. His smile really does light up any room he walks into and I can honestly say he's changed me to become a better person. 

Being a carer is so hard at times, no one really gets what you're going through. 

🌍I wouldn't change it for the world but I want to change the world to be a better place for him🌍 

✨This is why I'm part of NSPCWT. I will change things not just for Ollie but for all of our extra ordinary children✨

Written June 2022