About 95% of the time, Down syndrome (DS) is caused by trisomy 21 — the person has three (3) copies of chromosome 21, instead of the usual two copies, in all cells. It is a genetic chromosomal condition where a person is born with 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. This is caused by the abnormal cell division during the development of the sperm cell or the egg cell.*
Persons with Down syndrome have a few common physical traits – low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the centre of the palm – and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.
Blue and yellow are the colours used to raise awareness to people with DS.
These were the key notes I used when I found “21 Extra Goodness”. Marian, apart from being a Christmas baby, is a blessing to our family, and has definitely brought “goodness” in our lives.
I hope our story inspires you to be kinder and more considerate to persons with disabilities.
