DOWN SYNDROME The Chromosome of Love
What I Learned from my Son through the Purity of His Being and the Immensity of His Love
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I vividly remember the moment I saw Max for the first time; looking into his eyes I whispered: “hello my love, it's Mama.” Max opened his big almond-shaped blue-gray eyes, and in that look, I felt that with that look he was the one welcoming me into his life. At that very moment, without thinking or expecting it, a love that I had never known before completely overwhelmed me, flooding my whole being. That day I received the blessing of experiencing a mother's love, which came accompanied by infinite gratitude and acceptance for having a child, my child. On that day, although I absolutely had no idea what the future held, I recognized deep in my core how great and majestic that love was, and knew, without a shred of doubt, that as a mother I would have and do whatever it took to raise and care for my son, giving my all. Since then, this wonderful love has been lodged in my heart as the North Star that has guided me day by day to do whatever is required in raising my son. As a mother, I have experienced an unwavering determination and inner strength that has been instrumental in overcoming challenges that would have been virtually insurmountable without that profound love.
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About the Book
Every parent hopes that their child will not only to be healthy but also "normal". When a child presents a physical, emotional, or mental condition that falls outside the established standards of what is considered normal, the impact on the parents' world—when faced with an unexpected and often unknown reality—can be very profound, and in some cases, devastating, depending on the child's diagnosis. Facing, and learning to navigate, this different and special world can be an overwhelming challenge for many parents, and sometimes, at first glance, something that may seem insurmountable. For those of us who are parents of children with special needs, raising and ensuring the well-being of our child becomes a responsibility that will inevitably be present for most of our lives, largely depending on the level of independence the child reaches in adulthood. For many parents, the concern about what life will be like for our child once we are gone is something that will accompany us until the last day of our lives. My main intention in writing this book is to share with parents of children with special needs what I wish I had known, especially during Max's childhood and early years. There may be information that is not of personal interest to all parents as special education programs are not available everywhere, and not every parent has special needs children. There is also more personal information that I hope will serve as support for parents in raising their children, no matter where they live or whether their children have a disability. What I present here is a personal perspective based on my experience as the mother of a child with Down syndrome, residing in California, United States. This is my story.
About the Author
Mate Kelber was born and raised in Colombia (South America) and, in 1991, moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a master’s degree in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica. The significant turning points in Mate's life began with her first personal growth training with Insight Seminars, which had a profound impact, awakening her to the realization that living a fulfilling life is closely tied to gaining self-awareness and understanding the importance of taking personal responsibility. Meeting John-Roger, the founder of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA) and following his teachings on the spiritual heart defined the path for Mate to continue growing as a human being and gaining a deeper awareness of herself as a spiritual being—teachings she strives to practice in her daily life. Mate believes that her journey of self-healing was a preparation for receiving the very special gift of her son, Max. It was a journey to build a solid foundation, a state of consciousness, and the inner strength and purpose necessary to raise and support Max on his path as an individual with special needs. It has been an inner journey of becoming a better person and be able to fulfill her heartfelt desire to be the best possible mom she can be, and, because of Max, learning what likely no one else could have taught her: unconditional love. Mate resides in Manhattan Beach, California, leading a simple, happy life with her husband Jeff and her son, Max.