Hope, Help, and Information to help you advocate for your child
I want you to know that you and your child are so very special. We too went through the miracle of a child born with Trisomy 18.
When our daughter Bridget was born, we were surprised to discover she had Trisomy 18. She had a very happy, vibrant life and lived an incredible five months. We didn't see Trisomy 18, we just saw our precious child. Although Bridget's time on Earth is done she is happy to be continuing her work of love as a bridge of hope to other children through this site.
We have started the Trisomy 18 Bridge of Hope Foundation in the hopes of providing you what we so desperately needed when our daughter Bridget, affectionately called "Bridge," was born. We searched in vain for a central source of information and research on Trisomy 18 so that we could advocate for our child to get all treatments available to her to help her live longer and better.
We found snip-its of information in many different places but really wanted one central resource of links so that we could do our best to help her live as long and as well as possible. That's what this site is about... information to create a bridge of hope not only a better tomorrow, which is of course so very important....it's also build a better TODAY for children with Trisomy 18!
At a glance, here's how this site can help you:
1. Action Kits. If you are the parent of an infant with Trisomy 18, Click Here to Get your Free Action Kit. We call this an action kit because it contains things to support you in parenting and advocating for your child... this kit contains two important books called:
1) Book: Care of the Infant and Child with Trisomy 18 or
Trisomy 13
2) Book: Trisomy 18: A Handbook for Families
3) Two Trisomy Awareness bumper stickers
4) Plus a little gift from us for your sweet baby!
Are you a parent of an infant with Trisomy 18?
Click Here Now to Get Your Free Action
Kit
Kits are funded through donations.
If you would like to donate an action kit to someone you
know with a Trisomy 18 infant, please
click here.
2. Trisomy 18 Awareness. An important part of our work at the Trisomy 18 Bridge of Hope Foundation is to raise public awareness with the goal of encouraging Trisomy 18 research to make today and tomorrow better for our kids.
Unbelievably, overall children with Trisomy 18 have shorter lifespans today than 40 years ago. Some experts feel that this is largely due to the label of "incompatible with life" given to Trisomy 18 and how that label impacts treatment decisions. The problem with this label is that it is inaccurate... some children clearly defy this definition and live days, weeks, months, and a few live many years.
Other conditions that are equally or more rare than Trisomy 18 have more funds going toward research than Trisomy 18 does and as a result of research have vastly improved treatment, quality of life, and lifespans. Your support is key to change!
Get involved in raising awareness. Get your Free Trisomy 18 Awareness Bumper Sticker now!
Hugs to you and your precious child,
Deanne, Erik, Aria, and angel Bridget Repich