The Brianna Series 4/12: Ivana/Sister

(THE BRIANNA SERIES 4/12: Ivana/Sister)

Bria changed my life for the better. She is the reason for what I want to do in life. I have always wanted to work with children. Before she was born, I had decided to be an occupational therapist. When I found out that my sister was going to be born with Down syndrome, I took it as a sign that I picked the right career. Helping her with her therapies and watching her grow has made me more passionate about my career choice. It has been amazing watching her reach her developmental milestones.

I cherish the moments I share with Brianna. When she learned to walk, I was ecstatic. I have been with her every step of the way, working with her therapists. My family and I knew that she would take longer than normal to learn to walk. I was always hopeful and would say “soon” or “anytime now.” Now she walks all around the house non stop. Now, I wait for the day that she can talk. I look forward to having a conversation with her.

One of my favorite things she does is the “I love you” sign. She puts the sign up and then reaches out to touch my sign of “I love you." She knows that if I do it first or if she does it then the other must reach out to touch. It always brings a smile to both our faces.

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