Musa's quilt    (Quilt Completed)

Thank you

Thank you it's absolutely beautiful and he hasn’t stopped touching it. He's currently gone to sleep with it I'm so so grateful

Finished photos

Individual squares

Card

Stitched by: Gemma Boreham

Biography

Musa was born in 2017 via emergency c-section when the doctors struggled to find his heartbeat. Shortly after birth the doctors told us that Musa may have Down’s Syndrome. I didn't like the doctor's choice of words which were "baby has features that don't belong to mum and dad". I was heartbroken and didn't know what the future would hold for my tiny baby. I cried and grieved over the child I thought I'd have but didn't. One thing I knew was I would love him dearly.

I had so many negative perceptions about Down’s Syndrome and the internet was good at telling me all the things he would find hard or wouldn't do. Musa struggled with his feeding and at 6 months the doctors decided he needed an Ng tube. At 2 years old the doctors decided it was time Musa had an operation to get a gastrostomy tube in his tummy.

Five years on I wish I could tell myself what I know now. Musa is the most determined boy I know. Musa is a happy boy who loves playing with cuddly toys. He loves his big brother and sister who are his biggest cheerleaders. Often when people hear about his diagnosis they start off with I'm sorry, but there's so much beauty in Down Syndrome. Oftentimes Musa’s beauty takes my breath away, his sparkling almond shaped eyes, a captivating smile that often leads to laughter so infectious that the hardest of hearts will melt in response.

For a long time I wanted to prove to the world that he's just like any other kid but I soon realised that Musa doesn't have to be like everyone else, he can be different and that's ok. After all you can't blend in when you were born to stand out. Let's allow our stereotypical reality to crumble and truly get to know the beautiful person hidden under the label.