Words matter.
That’s the important point that one mother has made on Facebook, after choosing to send a public message to all of those who have offered her “sympathy” over her beautiful baby girl’s condition.
Caroline Boudet’s inspiring post, which has been shared a whopping 26,655 times, reads:
*Here is my baby girl, Louise. She is 4 months old, has two legs, two arms, and one extra chromosome. *
*Please, when you meet a [girl like] Louise, do not ask her mother, “how come you did not find out during the pregnancy?” *
*Either they did, and the parents took the decision to keep the baby. Or they didn’t, and it was surprising enough for them to talk about it over and over now. *
Keep in your mind that mothers have a tendency to feel guilty about each and every thing, so a surprising extra chromosome… I’ll let you make up your mind.
*Don’t tell her mother, “it’s your baby no matter what.” *
No. It’s my baby, period. Plus, “nomatterwhat” is quite an ugly name, I’d rather call her Louise.
*Don’t tell her mother: “As she’s a Down baby, she will… etc.” *
*No. She is a 4-months-old baby who happens to have Down Syndrome. It’s not what she IS, it’s what she HAS. *
You wouldn’t say, “she’s a cancer baby.”
*Don’t say, “they’re like this, they’re like that.” “They” all have their features, their character, their own tastes, their life. *
“They” are as different between them as you are from you neighbour.
I know that if one does not experience it, one does not think about it but words do matter. They can comfort and they can hurt. So just give it a thought, especially if you’re a doctor or nurse of any kind.
I usually do not make my status public on Facebook, but this one will be. You can read it and share it as you want.
*Because each year there are (in France) 500 new “mothers of Louise” that can have a day ruined by those kind of words. *
I know it’s not meant to hurt. But you just need to know.
(English translation below!)[LES MOTS SONT IMPORTANTS] Elle, c'est ma fille. Louise. Qui a quatre mois, deux bras deux... > >
Posted by [Caroline Boudet](https://www.facebook.com/caroline.boudet) on [Monday, June 8, 2015](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152943642148543&set=a.181113438542.123286.725533542&type=1)
The reaction to Caroline’s beautiful post has been overwhelmingly positive, with many other mothers coming forward to share their own experiences.
One wrote powerfully: “I have 30-year-old son with Down syndrome. I understand you so much. I spread this kind of message for 30 years and unfortunately, I think they will do it for centuries and centuries, but it is important not to stop writing these messages.
“One day, maybe, people will understand better what we live. My son Jean Robert Boucher is wonderful, sociable, tender, full of life and full of talent. We wouldn’t swap him for anything in the world.
Were you moved by Caroline’s message? Are you a “mother of Louise”?
Share your thoughts via the comments box below now.