I Love You Natty: An Important Book Announcement/ Giveaway

We nervously launched our little book, written by our eldest daughter Mia, into the big wide world just under 6 months ago.

'A simply beautiful and touching account. 

I wish this book had been around when my daughter was born.'

'Every parent and medical professional should read 

this true story of life with Trisomy 21.'

'Educational and full of love, this book shows how 

the family have adapted and carried on.'

I Love You Natty: A Sibling's Introduction to Down's syndrome

'Downs Side Up is a campaign blog to watch' 

The Financial Times newspaper

We have been humbled and astonished at the response to the sibling introduction to Down's syndrome:

• I Love You Natty has been shipped to every corner of the globe.
• It has featured in numerous magazines and newspaper articles and has been reviewed by major charities, such as the DSA who gave it 99*
• Natty took a copy onto the ITV Lorraine Show.
• Proud owners of the sibling introduction to Down's syndrome include: Lorraine Kelly, Norman Lamb MP, CBeebies Dr Ranj, Prof Nikolaides of Harley Street, Fiona Bruce MP, oh, and Prof Richard Dawkins (well, he needed a little educating).
• Copies can be found in Oxford and Cambridge University Libraries, The Houses of Parliament, The Department of Health, school classrooms, Great Ormond Street Hospital and the bookshelves of a house just like yours.
• Bloggers such as Honest Mum have reviewed and run competitions.
• We have donated over 100 books to various organisations, supporters and parents. 
• It is now stocked in Waterstones and Sainsbury's Cornwall, as well as Amazon UK.
• Feedback has been 5* from all who have purchased it. 
• Youngsters with Down's syndrome say they adore the pictures and some children ask for it to be read to them every day.
• We were very excited to do our first book signing in Waterstones over the Summer and another one is planned for nearer Christmas. 

Natty reads her I Love You Natty to Lorraine Kelly in the green room before gowing on the ITV Lorraine Show

And we are very proud to announce that we have finally covered our creation and printing costs, (phew!). It was a risk but we've done it.

We are now able to think about funding a reprint and making some minor amendments. We are very excited to now also be able to offer the book to charities, support groups and organisations wishing to sell them on. 

So if you would like to stock I Love You Natty or review a copy on your blog please do get in touch. 
For retailer costs contact me via downssideup@gmail.com

Thank you all for your immense support getting this project off the ground. I believe so passionately that such a book is needed, as it was exactly what we sought for Mia after Natty's arrival.

In the meantime we would like to celebrate by giving away 1 copy per week of I Love You Natty during October which is Down Syndrome Awareness Month #DSAM2014

You can enter below for your chance to win.

(Week 1 - Winner was Becky Smith)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reader's Story: Sandy Lawrence

Today's story is from a lady who is a great friend of mine, she also happens to be the chair of the Cornwall Down's Syndrome Support Group as well as being on the board of the DSA. She is a force to be reckoned with and certainly someone you can count on for loyal support if you find yourself in a difficult situation. I think it took me over a year to contact her in the beginning...

Matthew in Disneyland

I am not a natural writer and have started this piece so many times.  I guess what I really want to say has to come from the heart so here goes.

I came to motherhood relatively late and went back to work 6 weeks after my first child was born. It had taken me 5 yrs to conceive and carry my baby to full term so it was a bit of a surprise when I fell pregnant with Matthew when James was just 5 months old.

I refused all testing as I had had 3 miscarriages and thought no more about the possibility of having a child with downs syndrome.  Matthew was born on 2^nd June by elective c-section and I was told almost immediately that they thought he had downs syndrome. I was overwhelmed with sadness especially for the medics whom I had grown to know and for whom I thought it must have been so difficult for them to tell us.

I also remember being so sad that I thought I had ruined James’ life and that he would be forever saddled with his disabled brother.

Matthew had a very poor start to life health wise and stopped breathing at 10 days old.  He was put on life support and for a couple of days we sat by his cot just willing him to live.  I made so many pacts with God that it didn’t matter that he had downs syndrome I just wanted my baby to live. 

He pulled through and we got on with our new life.  I gave up work and we settled into the inevitable round of appointments that you will have heard about from other writers.  At six months Matthew had another huge setback when he developed infantile epilepsy.  Although he no longer has fits, the impact of this early setback has had a lasting and profound effect on him, affecting his ability to speak.

Through Matthew I have met some amazing people, some of whom I now consider to be life long friends. What is most fascinating is to watch the journey that parents take.  To see them blossom into everything that their child needs and so much more.  To see the capacity that parents like Hayley have, not just to be an incredible parent to their child with downs syndrome and their other children, but also be the crutch that other parents can lean on when they need to. Many of us would not have thought that we had this in us and yet when tested almost beyond what we can endure, time and time again we see parents of children with all sorts of additional need go above and beyond to support other parents on their own journey.

Hayley and I laugh now about the number of people who told her she should contact me in the early days after Natty was born, and those that asked me if they could give Hayley my phone number. I am so glad that when she was ready she did contact me.

I am often asked about the ups and downs of raising a child with downs syndrome and I explain it like this: It is the most exasperating, emotional, difficult, amazing wonderful thing that I have ever done, and I would not change it for the world.