Angels among us..

This is about my angel boy Danny who truly was a shining star to anyone who had, had the honor of knowing him..Danny was born April 10th 1989 when I was 21 .For most of the pregnancy I had a feeling something wasn't quite right,couldn't put my finger on it and my Doctor said it was just 2nd time Mom jitter's.Danny wasn't due until May but he had different idea's and on the evening of April 9th my water had broken so I was admitted.After an uneventful labor my son made his entrance into the world and I immediately knew by the look on the Doctors face something was wrong.He was beautiful,healthy and had the unmistakable features of having Down Syndrome.After that the staff's treatment was a little subdued and I was asked if I was going to take him home.Well,why in the world would I not?This is my child  and he's perfect in my eyes.I made him a promise that day that I would always protect him and keep him safe and I did until a monster so much bigger than I came and took him one night when he was 12 days from his 20th birthday.I enrolled Danny in an EIP program when he was 3 months old.I cannot stress enough how important this type of program is.Danny was pretty much on target developmentally ,he walked at 14 months,potty trained by 3,but his speech never really developed past the level of an 18 month old.We never found a reason for it,he'd had problems with fluid in his ears but it wasn't significant enough to cause any major hearing loss and even after having tubes his speech just never took off but Danny had his own ways of communicating.Danny later went on to go to public school whose Special Education programs were inclusive,he was able to participate in some regular classrooms which I think is beneficial in the development of person's with special needs.He had many wonderful teachers over the years.Danny was enrolled in the HS Life Skills program at the time of his death.He was an 11th grader and due to Graduate the following year.I cannot praise his teachers enough for all they had done while he was a student.We were invited to their  Class of 2010 Graduation ceremonies where they held a moment of silence and I will forever hold in my heart that they did this for him.He had spent so many years in school he deserved to have that closure.His classmates have been constructing a Memorial Garden outside the school,they've worked really hard and I can't wait until it's completed.Danny was a truly remarkable young man and I say this not just because he was my son but because of the joy he brought to all those who ever met him.Ask me if I believe in Angels and I will tell you yes..one walked beside us for nearly 20 years♥...In memory of Danny 4/10/89-3/28/09