Featured on "Positive about Down Syndrome"
Here’s what they wrote on the Positive About Down Syndrome facebook page:
‘Liz Arriens’ love of writing combined with her adoration of daughter Coraline has led her to a successful blog. Now up for an award we wish her all the best. Link below.
I have always loved to write. I used to say, “I don’t know what to write about.” And then came Coraline.
She was diagnosed with Down syndrome and two holes in the heart at birth. She is now two and a half years old. I began writing when she was four days old. I thought our family and friends would love to learn as we learned, and that we would learn from them too. The response was incredible, and they said to me, louder and louder, “make it wider, wider!” So, I made my blog Coraline and Us public! It felt scary at first, sharing our story beyond people we knew.
I write what I would have wanted to read myself that first week in hospital. I write about love, health, acceptance, kindness, appreciation, gratitude, joy, trust in life, openness and authenticity. My older brother said to me, when Coraline was a day old, “she will be the making of you”. My mum says, “I love her,” and my dad says, “reading about you all just fills the room and the world with love”. My younger brother has always said to me, “write authentically” as this is how we relate to each other.
That is why I love the posts on “Positive about Down Syndrome” and feel a joy each time I read them. What I was searching for when Coraline was born was other people’s experiences: experiences that would inspire me, and propel me, when I was in shock those first few days.
The authenticity of each writer comes across, and how much they love writing the post because they can’t wait to share about their life. Passion and joy come through because the child they are writing about has filled their heart.
I was delighted to write a post for the PADS facebook page when Coraline was 14 months old. In it I mentioned about my husband Kevin’s positive reaction from the moment she was born, and my dad’s words, “he’s set the tone for us all”. That’s what we all do as a shared community on PADS; we set the tone. It is a powerful page.
How has our story progressed? At 15 months old Coraline had open heart surgery and was home within a week. At 16 months old we went on a dream trip to Australia to see friends and relatives for six weeks and Coraline was a hit with everyone. Parents began to write to me and said my blog had meant something to them. The posts come back to love, which Coraline brings to all around her.
When Coraline was almost two years old, my blog won the Wellbeing Category at the BAPS SEND Blogging Awards for parents and carers of children with additional needs. I was bowled over. I am now a finalist in the same category at this year’s BAPS SEND Blogging Awards (I would be thrilled if you might consider voting for me by 19 March 2020 if you read the blog and like it: bit.ly/BAPSWellbeingCoralineandUs).
Just after Coraline turned two she began going to preschool two mornings a week. She now goes three mornings a week and loves it. She loves to laugh and sway to music and clap hands whilst her amazing dad sings to her. And, just over a year ago, when she was one and a half this amazing dad, my husband Kevin, quit his job, and began building his own handmade organic soap business, inspired by Coraline and our desire for pure products for her. He did consultancy work on the side, and has now launched Coraline Organic Skincare in earnest this February 2020.
What will the next year bring? My goal is to write a column! I would love to write for a parenting website, or magazine, to share our story. Our story is beautiful, and our story is day-to-day life. As you can see, Coraline has indeed been the making of us. Well we were already “made” but she has inspired us to follow our hearts.’
