Post by becca on Aug 18, 2007 20:04:58 GMT
The Story Of My Sister 21/05/2007
I am an 11 year old girl and my sister was born with down syndrome.She had to have 2 major heart operations.In my story you will find out what its been like for a normal school girl.
Chapter 1
Its a girl
My mum was heavily pregnant and I had got bored of waiting for the baby to be born.I didnt think anything would hapen that night because it hadnt done but because I have bad luck all the time Gemma was born.I arrived home from my friends at 6.00pm and I didnt expect my dad to answer and shout "Its a girl"at me.At first I had no clue what he was on about but then I thought mum."Oh my god"I shouted "Whats she called?"my dad replied "Gemma Patricia Steele"I didnt really like the name gemma to begin with but when i saw her it really suited her.
Chapter 2
Downs syndrome
My mum told me in private that gemma had downs syndrome.I had Know clue what downs syndrome was.My mum also told me she had a hole in her heart.I was devastated when my mum told me we all were.I love gemma but she was so small.Her having to have an operation that big was just unthinkable.I looked at gemma and compared to our baby pictures her eyes were differnet and and she was a lot paler.Come to think of it she didnt do any of the things we did she hardly even cried.
Chapter 3
Strike 1
Gemma was 3 months old.Southampton genaral hospital phoned to say gemma could come in for her operation.Unforunately Gemma decided to throw up that night and she was to ill to have the operation.She was ill for the rest of the week.We were all very upset that Gemma couldnt have it it was terrible news.
Chapter 4
There and back
A week on and we had another call from southampton hospital saying that the hospital was ready to do the opperation.My Mum packed her case and my dad drove my Mum to the hospital.It was a long journey and they had to wait and wait and wait until all the tests were over but when the doctor came back he didnt look to happy."Mr and Mrs steele?" he said "yes"said my Dad "two babies were born earlier and they need emergeny opperations so Gemma cant have her operation im really sorry" my parents were devasted.They came home that night but we werent expecting to see Mum and Gemma."Weve been cancelled"said mum nearly in tears."There were two babies born earlier and they need the opperation more then Gemma does."said mum.I thought no one needs it more then Gemma we had been waiting longer why should they get to push infront of us.
Chapter 5
The next call
The following thursday the phone rang again and it was southampton hospital again.They were letting Gemma go in again for the opperation.So my mum packed her bags again and we all went with her to the hospital.When we eventually got there we were sent to the E1 ward.There were 2 more families one next to us and one opposite us.We layed Gemma on the bed she looked around trying to get used to the surroundings but we could all tell she missed her moses basket.
Chapter 6
The opperation
We saw Mum on friday it felt like months though.I missed my Mum and Gemma so much.I had been sleeping im my parents bed.I didnt seem rite in my Mums bed.In the morning I knew that it was the day Gemma was going in for her opperation.At school all I could think about was Gemma laying there her eyes shut tight and her body wripped open with aload of strangers prodding at her insides.I knew she was in safe hands but it was hard to think we could have lost our baby.
Chapter 7
Mum comes home
That saturday my Mum came home for the night and I was very excited but my Auntie Jane had said I could stay round her house for the night.I didnt want be rude so I stayed round her house.I couldnt stop thinking about my Mum when I was there.I should have been with my Mum because this was the first time my Mum had been home for weeks.I was very upset but I kept that quiet.That sunday I went home because we all had school the next day.I was extremely upset at this time because I hadn spent hardly anytime with my mum and she was going back to south hampton hospital to stay with Gemma again.Luckily my mum and dads said we could go to the hospita to see gemma I was very excited.
Chapter 8
The tube in her neck
I know this sounds disgusting but gemma had a tube sewed into her neck and one day when we went to visit gemma one of the nurses said she was goin to take the tube out her neck.In my head I knew that was a good thing but I still felt it was to soon to be coming out.The nusrses had a realy sharp knife and was cutting all the way to were the tube ended.There was only a little bit of blood and gemma looked as if she could scream but she coulnt because she had another plaster on her mouth to keep a tube in her mouth kept in.I dont know about gemma but I was very scared I was crying aswell.
Chapter 9
Time to go home
Late that night my dad told us we had to go home,my eyes filled with water.I didnt want to leave but I knew we had to because we had school again the next day.I kissed gemma goodbye and slowly slumped towards the hospital door.The night nurse came along to talk to us for 10 minuites eventually I asked to leave so we all kissed mum and I burst into tears I really wanted to stay.I watched my mum turn around and walk back to her room I was dostraught.
Chapter 10
The second opperation
A couple of days later Gemma had to have more heart surgery.They had to fix a leaking valve.After another 5 hours wait gemma was back in intensive care.We nearly lost gemma that day.I felt she was safe in intensve care with all the doctors and nurses.At least she was there wih someone all the time.
Chapter 11
Scary
The next day we went and saw mum and gemma again.We walked over to gemmas cot.She didnt look like my baby sister any more.She was as white as snow and so cold.I could barely see her because she was covered in tubes carrying drugs throught her tiny body.
Chapter 12
Home once again
.We kissed gemma and mum and we were on another long trip back to mycthett again.The journey took forever.
Chapter 13
Better
A couple of days later we went to see gemma and my mumm but this time there was a dramatic change.Gemma was tubless!!She wasnt pale she finally looked my baby sister again.
She waved at me and I waved back we then exchanged our first smile.
Chapter 14
Surprise
We had been walking home with our neighbours because mum or dad could never get back on time.One day we walked throught the gate and my dad was standing there he said we could go up to the hospital but he was lying about something because he had a funny grin.We walkien inside and there sitting on her rug was darling gemma and my mum.I through my arms around them both.
Chapter 15
Here I am now
Things have calmed down alot Gemmas crawling and I have started secondary school.Thank you to all my friends at school especially those who have stuck by me.Remember there is nothing rong with having a child with downs there just a little slower to learn things.
I am an 11 year old girl and my sister was born with down syndrome.She had to have 2 major heart operations.In my story you will find out what its been like for a normal school girl.
Chapter 1
Its a girl
My mum was heavily pregnant and I had got bored of waiting for the baby to be born.I didnt think anything would hapen that night because it hadnt done but because I have bad luck all the time Gemma was born.I arrived home from my friends at 6.00pm and I didnt expect my dad to answer and shout "Its a girl"at me.At first I had no clue what he was on about but then I thought mum."Oh my god"I shouted "Whats she called?"my dad replied "Gemma Patricia Steele"I didnt really like the name gemma to begin with but when i saw her it really suited her.
Chapter 2
Downs syndrome
My mum told me in private that gemma had downs syndrome.I had Know clue what downs syndrome was.My mum also told me she had a hole in her heart.I was devastated when my mum told me we all were.I love gemma but she was so small.Her having to have an operation that big was just unthinkable.I looked at gemma and compared to our baby pictures her eyes were differnet and and she was a lot paler.Come to think of it she didnt do any of the things we did she hardly even cried.
Chapter 3
Strike 1
Gemma was 3 months old.Southampton genaral hospital phoned to say gemma could come in for her operation.Unforunately Gemma decided to throw up that night and she was to ill to have the operation.She was ill for the rest of the week.We were all very upset that Gemma couldnt have it it was terrible news.
Chapter 4
There and back
A week on and we had another call from southampton hospital saying that the hospital was ready to do the opperation.My Mum packed her case and my dad drove my Mum to the hospital.It was a long journey and they had to wait and wait and wait until all the tests were over but when the doctor came back he didnt look to happy."Mr and Mrs steele?" he said "yes"said my Dad "two babies were born earlier and they need emergeny opperations so Gemma cant have her operation im really sorry" my parents were devasted.They came home that night but we werent expecting to see Mum and Gemma."Weve been cancelled"said mum nearly in tears."There were two babies born earlier and they need the opperation more then Gemma does."said mum.I thought no one needs it more then Gemma we had been waiting longer why should they get to push infront of us.
Chapter 5
The next call
The following thursday the phone rang again and it was southampton hospital again.They were letting Gemma go in again for the opperation.So my mum packed her bags again and we all went with her to the hospital.When we eventually got there we were sent to the E1 ward.There were 2 more families one next to us and one opposite us.We layed Gemma on the bed she looked around trying to get used to the surroundings but we could all tell she missed her moses basket.
Chapter 6
The opperation
We saw Mum on friday it felt like months though.I missed my Mum and Gemma so much.I had been sleeping im my parents bed.I didnt seem rite in my Mums bed.In the morning I knew that it was the day Gemma was going in for her opperation.At school all I could think about was Gemma laying there her eyes shut tight and her body wripped open with aload of strangers prodding at her insides.I knew she was in safe hands but it was hard to think we could have lost our baby.
Chapter 7
Mum comes home
That saturday my Mum came home for the night and I was very excited but my Auntie Jane had said I could stay round her house for the night.I didnt want be rude so I stayed round her house.I couldnt stop thinking about my Mum when I was there.I should have been with my Mum because this was the first time my Mum had been home for weeks.I was very upset but I kept that quiet.That sunday I went home because we all had school the next day.I was extremely upset at this time because I hadn spent hardly anytime with my mum and she was going back to south hampton hospital to stay with Gemma again.Luckily my mum and dads said we could go to the hospita to see gemma I was very excited.
Chapter 8
The tube in her neck
I know this sounds disgusting but gemma had a tube sewed into her neck and one day when we went to visit gemma one of the nurses said she was goin to take the tube out her neck.In my head I knew that was a good thing but I still felt it was to soon to be coming out.The nusrses had a realy sharp knife and was cutting all the way to were the tube ended.There was only a little bit of blood and gemma looked as if she could scream but she coulnt because she had another plaster on her mouth to keep a tube in her mouth kept in.I dont know about gemma but I was very scared I was crying aswell.
Chapter 9
Time to go home
Late that night my dad told us we had to go home,my eyes filled with water.I didnt want to leave but I knew we had to because we had school again the next day.I kissed gemma goodbye and slowly slumped towards the hospital door.The night nurse came along to talk to us for 10 minuites eventually I asked to leave so we all kissed mum and I burst into tears I really wanted to stay.I watched my mum turn around and walk back to her room I was dostraught.
Chapter 10
The second opperation
A couple of days later Gemma had to have more heart surgery.They had to fix a leaking valve.After another 5 hours wait gemma was back in intensive care.We nearly lost gemma that day.I felt she was safe in intensve care with all the doctors and nurses.At least she was there wih someone all the time.
Chapter 11
Scary
The next day we went and saw mum and gemma again.We walked over to gemmas cot.She didnt look like my baby sister any more.She was as white as snow and so cold.I could barely see her because she was covered in tubes carrying drugs throught her tiny body.
Chapter 12
Home once again
.We kissed gemma and mum and we were on another long trip back to mycthett again.The journey took forever.
Chapter 13
Better
A couple of days later we went to see gemma and my mumm but this time there was a dramatic change.Gemma was tubless!!She wasnt pale she finally looked my baby sister again.
She waved at me and I waved back we then exchanged our first smile.
Chapter 14
Surprise
We had been walking home with our neighbours because mum or dad could never get back on time.One day we walked throught the gate and my dad was standing there he said we could go up to the hospital but he was lying about something because he had a funny grin.We walkien inside and there sitting on her rug was darling gemma and my mum.I through my arms around them both.
Chapter 15
Here I am now
Things have calmed down alot Gemmas crawling and I have started secondary school.Thank you to all my friends at school especially those who have stuck by me.Remember there is nothing rong with having a child with downs there just a little slower to learn things.