Reading Time: 2 minutes
Today, March 21, is World Down Syndrome Day.
In recognition of that day, GeekMom spoke to one of the creators of a brilliant and heartfelt comic, “The Diagnosis: The True Story of Dani W.”
Dani W. happens to be GeekMom Dani, who wrote several pieces about her journey to becoming the mother of her son, Chuck, a baby with Down Syndrome.
“The Diagnosis,” a ten-page comic, was written Dani and Chari Pere, with art by Chari Pere, and follows the pregnancy journey of Dani to the birth of her son and beyond.
First, go read it. You need to read it. The full comic is at the link in the second paragraph but here is the first page:
Read that? Good.
I spoke to Dani this week about writing the comic and what played into her decision to work with Chari and create “The Diagnosis.”
Dani: Chari and I met on Facebook via her husband Eli, who’s my friend from college. We were virtual friends for a while before meeting in person in NY [New York] when my son was an infant. Chari is familiar with my story and read the pieces I wrote for GeekMom. She approached me about writing this piece to join other work she’s done on the complex parts of life that most people don’t discuss.
This piece was in the works for over a year as life happened around it. While I’ve been writing for a long time, I’d never written a comic before. Chari and Eli, and their editing team coached me through the writing and pacing. It’s exciting to finally show it to everyone!”
Dani said that for those who need resources to help with a baby with Down Syndrome, especially parents dealing with a new diagnosis, she recommends the Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network and the National Down Syndrome Society, which does advocacy and runs the Buddy Walk.
“DSDN was really helpful during the prenatal stage and we moms who were pregnant at the same time are in a FB group for support,” Dani said. “If you need help, they are there.”
And if you need to know you are seen, read this comic. I’m not the parent of a child with Down Syndrome but any parent of a child dealing with a chronic condition will see themselves in it.
Click through to read all of ““The Diagnosis:” A Mother’s Journey With a Baby With Down Syndrome” at GeekMom.If you value content from GeekMom, please support us via Patreon or use this link to shop at Amazon. Thanks!
