Hi everyone, my name is Brittany Tower, and I’m honored to introduce myself as a new member of the EIDS Board. I wanted to share a little about myself and my family. I was only 21 when I found out I was pregnant with our second child. We were so excited. It was a long and difficult pregnancy—I was sick most of the time and very ready for it to end so I could finally hold our sweet baby boy. We had no idea of his condition and all the prenatal tests always came back normal and healthy. The day he was born, the delivery started out well. Soon after, everything changed quickly. My son’s heart was in distress, everytime I had a contraction his heart rate would plummet and we were told he might not make it. An emergency C-section was necessary, and it was terrifying. After he was born, he was taken away immediately, and I didn’t even get the chance to see him.
When the news came that he had Down syndrome, it was hard—but in some ways, it wasn’t surprising. Growing up, I struggled academically, later to find out I am Dyslexic. As a consequence of this I spent a lot of time in the resource room in my elementary school years. I made many friends there, and we were often teased or made fun of for being different. I became a defender/advocate early on. I always had and still do have a soft spot in my heart for those that aren’t “typical” or different from the rest. Or if that definition even exists. Looking back, it feels like my life experiences were preparing me to be Carson’s mom long before I ever knew it. When he was born and to know I would be his mother, I actually felt grateful for the struggles I had growing up.
Fast forward to today—my son Carson is now 25 years old. He is an amazing person, and our journey together has been filled with both challenges and incredible moments. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. We are a family of five, with Carson right in the middle. We have been blessed more than we ever could have asked for, but there have also been moments of deep frustration, many tears, and times when we truly didn’t know what to do. Down syndrome is powerful—what one extra chromosome can do is incredible.
My advice to families just starting out: Be strong. Allow yourself time to cry, then pick yourself back up and keep going. Individuals with Down syndrome can do so much—just on their own time scale. The best advice I’ve ever received is to play the long game. Teach them as much as you can, believe in their potential, and help build strong relationships within the whole family, immediate and extended, so they can have the brightest future possible.
