Down Syndrome !! Thursday Gists With IyanulOluwa Ololade

Down Syndrome !! Thursday Gists With IyanulOluwa Ololade
ololadeiyanuloluwa@gmail.com.

Down Syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the replica of chromosome 21. Humans are supposed to have 46 chromosomes or 23 pairs of chromosomes inside every cell of the body; chromosomes hold the genes which determine the traits, human eye and blood type of every being. However, when chromosome 21 of 23 appears to be 3 instead of 2 (a pair), down syndrome is caused.

At the end, someone with down syndrome will appear to have physical and developmental challenges; intellectual disabilities, flattened face, small head, short neck, protruding tongue, unusually shaped ears, relatively short hands, feet and fingers, short height and tiny white spot on the coloured part of the eye (iris). Down Syndrome is also known as trisomy 21.

Just like the people with down syndrome, there are a whole lot of other syndromes, weaknesses and disabilities that affect the look and general performance of the affected persons. These disabilities are capable of causing other emotional struggles. Though the biological disabilities may not completely go away, the way everyone around the affected persons treat and react to them will determine the effect and duration of those additional struggles, their healing process, their contributions to life and how long they can live.

How then should they be treated? It is sad to know that in most cases, only the caregivers and immediate family members of such affected persons feel concerned about their challenges and care for them adequately. It is time to change that narrative. Be empathetic, defend them, do not talk down on them, forget about your irritations; let us put ourselves in the shoes of the affected persons and do unto them what we will want others to do to us. No insults, mockery and stigmatization, no bad vibe or sadness around them, show enough love and care and encourage them at all times.