Above is a little pastiche of my son Ben, ranging form seven months to about twenty nine years of age.
This is the most current photo I have of Ben, aged thirty three (nearly thirty four I can hear him shout!)
It's fair to say he's changed a bit but I think anyone who knew him years ago would still recognise him. From the day I brought him home from his foster Mum in Bath on December 4th 1990 I can say without fear of being accused of exaggeration that he has enriched my life. Not to say he hasn't aged me way beyond the thirty four years we've been together, and I certainly blame him for my head of pure white hair!
This selfie (not really part of my skill set) was taken yesterday as we prepared to watch the final of the Euros. We're still smiling and still I'm happy to say enjoy each others company. He's been responsible for many, many sleepless nights over the years for a variety of reasons but has also been (and still is) responsible for much laughter. It's rather like living with the cast of thousands from an old Cecil B De Mille film (showing my age!) his ability to throw together a costume and assume the identity of a film or TV character just from his wardrobe (and occasionally mine) is amazing. There have been so many dramatic entrances to our living room, unannounced but if he has disappeared for five minutes with talking then I can be fairly sure I'm about to receive a visitation.
When we finally ventured out after the covid restrictions lifted life had moved on without us, or so it seemed. I have to admit I had erred on the side of over caution, in fact we pretty much stayed in isolation for around eighteen months. (mind you, neither of us have had covid...so far) we had lost touch with many of the groups and activities we used to be involved with so life was fairly quiet. In around September 2023 we found our way to Down Syndrome Cheshire in Northwich.
Life has changed! Ben has found a place where he has made some wonderful friends, found a place where he shines and is accepted and where his gift of the gab has been recognised and utilised! He is now Chairman of the I Choose Board which meets twice a month and is a forum for adults (from 18+) to have a voice and express their hopes, choices, worries and expectations. He's been to 10 Downing Street!
He's a regular contributor to the new That Down Syndrome Podcast (I may have to change my name) and he's finally decided he quite likes having a go at some cooking and baking. He works alongside amazing volunteers and some of his peers on Monday mornings, at the DSC Hub, he's really enjoying painting some concrete planters for their garden project at the moment and he and his friends have planned the project and worked out the budget with the assistance of Julia and Colin. Another favourite activity is when they choose a meal to cook for everybody, they choose their recipe, budget, shop then finally at the end of the month they cook.
I can't praise or thank this truly amazing charity enough, they've brightened our weeks and we both feel so welcome and cared for. Ben is so happy that he decided he wanted to do a fundraiser as a gesture of his gratefulness so Monday July 8th he began his sponsored cycle challenge. 21 minutes every day for three weeks. (I'll explain the significance of the numbers next time.
Not my usual style of blog but I just wanted to find a way to share this incredible group of people, you can follow them on Facebook at Down Syndrome Cheshire and the website has the same title. I'm off now to inspect todays painting, not sure how much Ben has got on to the planters as he's just walked past and he is covered in magnolia paint!
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