14/31 Book give-away – Promote

In honor of Down syndrome awareness month I will be publishing excerpts from “From Grief to Celebration, How One Family Learned to Embrace the Gift of Down Syndrome” for 12 days. Each day features a different verb/chapter and at the end of the month we will give-away three copies of the book, signed by Alex. Priceless! 

I wrote, "From Grief to Celebration, How One Family Learned to Embrace the Gift of Down Syndrome"  to share this story of love, life, magic and down syndrome. Our critically acclaimed book details our journey through ten verbs beginning with grief, ending with plan and incorporating one bonus verb, celebrate. I hope this can be a resource to help others embrace, understand and learn. The book is available through this blog ($12.50) on-line booksellers ($13.99) and kindle (reduced to $3.99 during October).

Verb 4 – Promote

I subsequently became involved with NADS as a volunteer. John and I were support parents and were called upon to visit new families with babies with Down syndrome in our area. We visited parents at home, in the hospital and talked to others on the phone. We shared our experience, but recognized many of these parents were grieving. I became one of those parents who had told me everything would be fine.

We had drunk the magic potion, incorporated Down syndrome into our lives and graduated to promoting it.

We listened and answered questions, and knew we could help but not solve, just as our own experience had shown. It was an incredible feeling to help these young families, just as others helped us. We really learned what it means to pay it forward. I try to do this every day of my life.

I also became a mentor to an adult with Down syndrome, and I still stay in touch with Cindy by e-mail. She lives in a supervised apartment with two other disabled adults and works at her local grocery store. She also participates in the Special Olympics and is a huge supporter of Alex and her accomplishments. Cindy opened my eyes to her extraordinary life, which is full of friends and happiness.

To read more please enter our give-away:

These are only two requirements to be entered in the drawing - and Alex will pick the winner!

1. Please like "The Ordinary Life of an Extraordinary Girl" on facebook (link on the sidebar), or
2. Follow this blog, on networked blogs (also on sidebar)

Of course, you will need to tell me you did this, either as a comment or by e-mail theextraordinarygirlllc@gmail.com .

Stay tuned

15/31 Book give-away: Include

16/31 Book give-away: Understand