The Birth of Hope

K.L. and Nancy Chia are pleased to announce the birth of our 11th child and 8th daughter, Yuin-Lei Hope Chia, on July 16, 2003 at 03:25 am.

(Yuin = Garden, Lei = Jasmine, Chia = Thankful, in Chinese.)

She weighed 5 lbs 1 oz, and 17 in. long. (She was 2 1/2 weeks early.) She was born right at home with a couple of midwives in attendance. The labor and delivery was short and uncomplicated. Several of her older sisters were also in attendance as part of their home education.

Mother and daughter are doing great. Hope is a special gift from God--she has Down Syndrome--we love her just the same. She is beautiful, her color is good, her heart and body are strong, and she nurses well.

We had no inkling that Hope had Down Syndrome. Her pregnancy felt the same as all the other children. She was just as active in utero as the other children, although Nancy recalls that Hope stayed put in one position for a long time.

Perhaps the most tell-tale sign was that we've had 2 miscarriages before Hope. Nancy and I are both 44 years old, and the charts say we have a 1 in 41 chance of having a Down Syndrome child. We hit the jackpot!

We are unfazed by Down Syndrome ... Our journey in life has prepared us to accept a DS child. We've known a number throughout our lives, and there are several in our current church. They are very special and loving people. She'll stay a child all our lives, which is fine ... I wish we could all be more child-like. Notwithstanding, there will be many challenges up ahead, but the Lord will see us through.

May God bless you and your family.