Lisa had also started a relationship with a man with Down syndrome, they dated but lived in separate houses. Patti understood her daughter had a healthy adult relationship – they also discussed things like birth control and safe sex.
“At the time all the books said males with Down syndrome were sterile and people told us not to worry about it as they couldn’t get pregnant,” Patti said.
Patti had just returned from lunch at work and was listening to the message on her voice mail. She then had a message from an excited Lisa:
“Hi mum, I just wanted you to know you are going to be a GRANDMOTHER!” Patti says, “My mind went in all directions. How could this be? Her boyfriend has Downs!”
Lisa’s decision to have the child was criticized by outsiders as irresponsible and selfish and her ability to be a good mother was also questioned. But her family was very supportive and protected their daughter.
Lisa, a well-articulated and passionate person, had a common pregnancy in several ways. She went to childbirth classes, had a pregnancy coach, and had all the typical symptoms.
“It was hard for me to walk around when I was pregnant, I was working five days a week. I had morning sickness and I wasn’t feeling good. I felt like I was going to throw up,” Lisa told Voice.
However, her pregnancy was considered high risk and treated like that. Lisa’s son Nic was born 4 weeks early and, like his parents, had Down syndrome.
Nic’s father was present at his birth, and the new parents tried to live under one roof around Nic’s birth. But, unfortunately, it didn’t work. Sadly, Nic’s father passed away when Nic was 5.
Having children is always a risk for everyone involved, and Lisa was particularly vulnerable – not least because many had opinions about her decision to become a mother.
It went so far that Lisa lost touch with some of her friends – because her friends’ parents were afraid that Lisa would influence their daughters to want babies too.
But ultimately none of these views matter, especially not to Nic who has continued to thrive; he’s a college graduate with huge respect for the women who have raised him. The person he is today is thanks to them.
“I have two moms. My mom Lisa is my greatest future in my life. She gave me life and she gave me love and she gave me birth and she is always wonderful and she is beautiful,” he said as per Fabiosa.
In 2016, Patti shared a heartwarming update on Facebook, along with a picture of a proud mom and a happy son:
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