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live local profile down syndrome. the baskets contain items and supplies for newborns.
soileau
makes the baskets in her home, and
ella
loves to help her. however, as the organization continues to grow,
soileau
hopes to host basket- making parties. she also strives to deliver to more hospitals so the organization can reach more parents. so far,
ella
?s endeavor has delivered about 175 baskets. ?i have had the privilege of hand delivering several of these baskets, and it is always such an amazing experience,?
soileau
says
. ?we love getting to meet these families and hear how they are feeling and what the baskets mean to them. we understand every emotion these families are feeling, and it brings the families comfort when we can tell them our story,? she
says
. mallory beckham received a basket when her daughter, izzy, was two days old. beckham
says
alyssa and blake
soileau
came into her hospital room with a basket full of goodies, along with hope, encouragement, and
ella
?s story. she and her husband realized they were not alone in their emotions. ?they were open about their experience and answered all of my questions honestly,? beckham
says
.
soileau
wants all parents whose child is born with down syndrome to understand how special and important their child is. no matter the confusion and heartbreak they may first experience, their child will be the greatest gift they have ever received. ?i spent so much time worrying about the future and grieving the loss of the child i had planned for,?
soileau
says
. ?i wish i could go back and shake that woman in the hospital bed and tell her how truly blessed she is. i believe the saying, ?she leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes,? was truly meant for
ella
.? ? syndrome at the time,?
soileau
says
. ?we felt alone and that no one else could understand the pain we were going through.?
soileau
didn?t know
ella
?s life had a much larger purpose and that everything was going to be fine, if not amazing. as they began to realize how truly blessed they were to have been given
ella
,
soileau
decided she wanted to do something for others experiencing what she did. ?i wanted to give families a new experience of receiving the news, as if they were being welcomed into an elite club.?
soileau
says
.
soileau
founded
ella
?s endeavor, an organization that makes and delivers baskets in louisiana hospitals to parents whose baby has been diagnosed with t he birth of a child is a day of celebration and joy, excitement and smiles. for some parents, however, that day can take an unexpected turn when they find out their child has been diagnosed with down syndrome. down syndrome is a genetic chromosome disorder characterized by developmental and intellectual delays, and many parents do not know their child will have the disorder until he or she is born. a few hours after alyssa
soileau
gave birth to her daughter,
ella
, she and her husband learned that
ella
was diagnosed with down syndrome.
soileau
says
she felt scared and somewhat angry and that they had been robbed of their beautiful celebration of a new life. ?we did not know much about down by madeline rathle
ella
?s endeavor 3 0 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 8
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