We are a family from Val-D’Amour New Brunswick , this is near Campbellton. My name is Valerie, my husband Luc and I have three beautiful boys, Rico 13, Zachary 3 and Michaël 2. Michaël was born with Down syndrome and our lives changed very quickly.

When we received the diagnosis of Down syndrome, the news was very hard and we had to go through all of this alone. We were scared, confused, frustrated, and we did not know where to turn. In the rural area we live, there was not a support group, leaving us feeling very much alone. We finally contacted the Canadian Down Syndrome Society and they asked what province we were living in, we were put in touch with the Greater Moncton Down Syndrome Society. We were so encouraged and pleased that we were now not alone.

The Society was a friend when we needed a shoulder to cry on and did so much to comfort and reassure us. They helped us obtain information and then we had the opportunity to meet up with the folks from New Brunswick at our first National conference we attended in St. Johns, Newfoundland. What a wonderful time we had, we still keep in touch and our family will never forgot them. I know we will remain friends for a very long time that’s just the way it is!