We are Christine and Bill Fitzgerald, the proud parents of Liam. Like anyone else with children, being the mom and dad of an adorable 9-year-old boy who happens to have Down syndrome means that our lives have been a whirlwind for as long as we can remember.

The MDSC has been part of our lives since the very earliest days, and
we hope you will join us in supporting this incredible organization this holiday season.
When I (Christine) was pregnant in 2005, with our fourth child, everything seemed "normal." But when Liam was born the following February, and the room filled with doctors and nurses, we knew immediately that something was up.

Those first few days were a blur. We were told Liam had Down syndrome, and a social worker mentioned the MDSC to us. Just knowing that a supportive, professional, community-based organization existed and was working on Liam's behalf put us at ease.

We had not expected to have a child with Down syndrome, and we knew very little about it. But we did vow to take everything in stride by saying to ourselves, "He's just a baby." It turns out that we had the right idea. As we came to discover, the MDSC's philosophy when it comes to acceptance and inclusion is just what we were practicing with Liam - children with Down syndrome are nothing more or less than "regular" kids. Ever since, the MDSC has been there for us in so many ways, which is why
"Just knowing that a supportive, professional, community-based organization existed and was working on Liam's behalf put us at ease." 

~ Christine and Bill Fitzgerald

Within no time, we essentially "joined" the MDSC by making connections with MDSCers in and around our hometown of Northboro.

We got camaraderie and sage advice from Neal & Kathy Lyons (MDSC Honorary Board Members), Rich & Susan Toronto, Cheryl & Lonnie Caira, and Paula & Pete Collins, to name a
few. Their children, Natalie, Leah, Jordan and Tucker are all role models for Liam and the choices they have made as parents and strong self-advocates are nothing short of inspirational.

We always felt incredibly lucky that Liam was a very healthy baby aside from needing ear tubes and having low muscle tone. He got early intervention services from two months old until almost three years old, as well as physical, occupational, and speech therapies. When he transitioned from daycare and Early Intervention to Northboro's public preschool at 2 years, 9 months, Liam was still using a walker for support. Shortly after, with the help of therapeutic horseback riding, he learned to walk on his own.

During this time the MDSC became an invaluable resource, and we began connecting more often with them. We attended their Annual Conference in March, walked in the Buddy Walk in Wakefield, and made friends at activities run by the MDSC's Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome (DADS) affiliate.
Over the years, our family has faced so many ups and downs, not least of which was Liam's leukemia diagnosis in 2009, then, four years later, being deemed cancer-free. Since then, the 
past few years with Liam have been wonderful. 

Liam is playing Challenger baseball, basketball and soccer, and we hope to have him skating this winter! We have been working hand-in-hand with MDSC and the Northboro Public Schools to make inclusion a reality, keeping him in the classroom - even for therapies - as much as possible.

The life Liam has now would not be possible were it not for the efforts of the MDSC. They have been with us every step of the way - raising awareness throughout our state, teaching best practices in our schools and hospitals, and building networks over three decades that families like ours can tap into.

We have attended several Annual Conferences and made sure that Liam's teachers and school administrators knew about and attended their Educators Forum, now in its 11th year. Now, as we are looking to Liam's future, so is the MDSC, developing programs and services to support adults with Down syndrome, whether through their Self Advocate Advisory Council, Allen Crocker Self Advocate Internship Program, Your Next Star Employment Campaign, or their 1st ever Adult Conference. 
Please join us in spreading this message about the many gifts that
people with Down syndrome bring to the world and make a donation
to the MDSC this holiday season.
In fact, we are so committed to everything the MDSC is doing for Liam and the 5,000 others with Down syndrome across the Commonwealth that I (Bill) have joined the Board of Directors to try to give back. We hope that you, too, will show your support for the tremendous programs that the MDSC provides to all families with Down syndrome throughout Massachusetts.

And now, with Liam's newfound fame as the Boston Bruins "Fist Bump Kid", we continue to partner with the MDSC, using our platforms and programs to raise awareness about what it means to have Down syndrome, including their abilities to make a difference in the world, and why inclusion is so critical.

We believe that Liam and all other children with Down syndrome can accomplish whatever they want in life with the love and support of parents and others who provide the support, information and guidance they need to achieve their goals.
Thank you,

Bill and Christine Fitzgerald
Northboro
Every gift of any size helps! 
You can make a positive difference 
in the life of someone with Down syndrome today!
MDSC | 781-221-0024  | E-mail | Website 
Photo of Liam with hockey stick courtesy of 
Shawna Shenette Photography as seen in Bay State Parent magazine.

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