Tom weighed just 3 pounds when he was born, and had so many medical issues, the doctors said "Just go home and forget you had a baby. If he lives, he will never be able to do anything, he is not likely to ever walk or talk." They kept him in the hospital for over nine months wanting to do "research" on him, and would not release him. Finally, I decided if he is going to die, it will be at home where he is loved, so I 'kidnapped' him and brought him home. It has not been easy, but the journey has been spectacular! Growing up presented so many challenges, but I had to sit back and let him make his own choices and decisions. The best gift you can give your child is to teach them to be as good as they can be. From the time Tom was very young, he said, "I can do it," whether he was learning to feed himself, tie his shoes, ride a bicycle, or whatever task he faced. Even the smallest accomplishment brought so much joy knowing he "had done it!" These little fulfillments brought him more and more confidence as he grew up. Today, Tom is a 44 year old young man with Down syndrome, who has a full time job, owns his own condo, is quite a good golfer, and has a great sense of humor. Each of these accomplishments is truly amazing. His perseverance and determination have brought him to where he is today. It would have been so much easier for him to just stay home and not have to go out into the world to work every day, but he absolutely loves his independence and is very proud of his career. I spent many sleepless nights wondering how he would ever manage, when he told me he wanted to live on his own. Today, he lives in his own condominium that is decorated quite nicely in his own style, does his own cooking and cleaning, and loves to entertain. Patience and love are the keys to "letting go" and "letting them grow." I feel Tom has a wonderful success story, and we are so thankful his life has progressed this way.