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Aidan’s Prayer

One of the (too-many) under-reported aspects of Alzheimer’s disease is its link to Down syndrome. In America, Alzheimer’s disease affects someone new every 70 seconds. That’s 52 families every hour whose worlds are changed by a diagnosis – 52 Families and their friends, caregivers, coworkers, communities …

… and many of those are the families who have lived a life of Love and compassion with a family member with Down syndrome. Down syndrome and general Alzheimer’s (i.e., not early-onset Alzheimer’s disease) share an abnormality in the number or structure of Chromosome 21. As many of the 350,000 Americans living with Down syndrome now will live into their 50s and beyond, the incidence of adults with DS and AD is on the rise. The additional challenges and heartbreak make this ‘21 Club’ seemingly unbearable. But this is Betty’s Love!

There’s so much families CAN do and so much JOY we find every day – despite Alzheimer’s, dementia, Down syndrome, Autism, Parkinson’s disease, or any cognitive impairment.

We tailor Betty’s University Programs like Family Matters–Down Syndrome to each family and the friends and caregivers of someone of any age living with Down syndrome, Autism, Parkinson’s, and more. To be inspired by a Parkinson’s Artist who defies her disease, read about Ann Devine Williams. For all our upcoming Lessons-with-Love, please click here.

Read Aidan’s Prayer© and be inspired by the Gifts, Blessings, and indefatigable JOY that are Aidan and his WONDER-full Warrior Mom, Jacki. Then, Share Your Story of embrace and empowerment, and engagement in your Family and join us for Betty’s Love and Down Syndrome and all Betty’s Love University Special Programs.

A Little Limerick of Love©

There here is an Angel named Aidan
whose voyage through Life is but maiden.
Yet in Gifts from Above –
Joy, laughter, and Love! –
are his Life and ours wonderfully laden!

His wit is quick, sharp as a tack.
For praying he has quite the knack.
Mind? Bright as a button!
His hugs? I’m a glutton!
Not one aptitude does he lack.

Now my heart, it beats as if thunder
as I seek to help him. I wonder:
How can I uplift
this Aidan, Your Gift?
Guide me, please God. Let me not blunder!

We met, some would say, “just by chance”
and my heart was lost in a glance
from his big, blue eyes
whose shape quite belies
his Joy and abilities’ expanse!

Into Lucky Me did he stumble
and offered his Prayers without mumble,
blessed me to employ
his Gifts and his Joy.
His Mom’s Love, Strength, and Trust do me humble

as now Betty’s Love does expand
to bring Blessings of measure so grand
as to work with such Gift
and Moms to help lift.
May I be able for this Work unplanned.

Thank You, O Great God – and Our Mother
and Jesus, Our Friend and Our Brother –
for the Gifts You’ve made in
Your Earth Angel, Aidan:
God’s Blessing-with-Love like no other!
Amen.

Please keep all Betty’s Love Families in your prayers. And, if you’re able, please help us help 52 more. Why 52? Click here.