What's It to Ya?

Many people find this blog by searching for a mentally retarded baby. If you google that term in images, Kimani comes up near the top of the list. The post you land on is “It Wasn’t Meant that Way.”



I am such a curious woman. I wonder about all the reasons a person might be searching for an image of someone like Kimani. Maybe you are a pregnant mom who just got some scary news. Maybe you are a college student doing a research paper. Maybe you are someone searching for nefarious reasons.

Whatever brought you here, I hope you gain something positive about mentally challenged people.

My daughter Kimani has Down syndrome. She is three years old now. As an infant in the NICU she contracted meningitis and suffered brain damage resulting in cortical sensory impairment. What that means is that while her senses (sight, hearing, feeling, etc.) all work correctly, the cortex in her brain does not always properly process the information it receives. At times she is legally blind, or deaf, or unable to feel things. It also means she processes information quite slowly when she is stressed or tired.



As you can imagine being sometimes blind and deaf and running on less neurons can make learning difficult. It can also make day-to-day living kinda frustrating for her and for us.

There is a huge difference between a person with Down syndrome and a person who has suffered brain damage. Apart from my Kimani’s unique and gorgeous face, which gives a hint of that extra 21st chromosome, she does not represent a typical child with Down syndrome. I have two adopted daughters who both also have Down syndrome and they are similar to each other in development and very much like my two typical children who have just 46 chromosomes.

Although Kimani has difficultly with learning and retaining new things, she can walk and climb. She can say a few words and can sign a few more. She is cooperative with getting dressed and other similar activities. She transitions well from one thing to another, sleeps like an angel, and is doing well with potty training. She loves the pool, her iPad, and dancing around in my arms to 70’s disco music.



If you take some time to read around this blog you will encounter the power Kimani has wielded in my life, and how that power has infused me with renewed creativity, brought me emotionally to my knees, taught me new ways to value individuals, and whispered love secrets into my heart. You will also find lots of other beautiful pictures of Kimani.

I invite you to share with me what it was you were looking for and if you found it. I accept anonymous comments if you wish to remain private.