Julie McConnel was in her mid 40s and hoping for a little girl to complete her family. Instead…. She had twin boys with Down syndrome. Julie shares her grief over the diagnosis, her concerns about whether or not she and her husband could handle twins with Down syndrome and their hesitation to parent—and how she now couldn’t imagine her life without Charlie and Milo. Have thoughts or a related story you’d like to share? Leave us a short voice message here! We may use your message on a future show. Links and Resources Julie’s story on the NDSAN blog Julie’s guest blog post on Cedars Story: Changing Perceptions of Down Syndrome The National Down Syndrome Adoption Network National Down Syndrome Society Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network Kids’ Waivers: information on Katie Beckett and other similar programs Born This Way: a TV series that follows a group of seven young adults with Down syndrome “Genetic Testing and the Rush to Perfection,“ National Council on Disability, October 23, 2019. Follow Charlie and Milo on Social Media: Charlie and Milo on Instagram: @chucklesandmeatloaf Charlie and Milo on Facebook Related Grey Genetics News Corner blog posts: Mitigating Misinformation: Spreading Awareness for Down syndrome NIPS: More Than Just a Sex Reveal Adoption as an Option: The National Down Syndrome Adoption Network Check out other Patient Stories podcast episodes. Read other Patient Stories on the Grey Genetics Patient Stories Page. Do you want to support Patient Stories? You can now make a donation online! Want to support Patient Stories in a non-monetary way? Leave us a review on iTunes, or share your favorite episodes on Social Media. Patient Stories on Twitter: @GreyGeneticsPod Patient Stories on Instagram: @patientstoriespodcast Are you looking for genetic counseling? Patient Stories is sponsored by Grey Genetics, an independent telehealth genetic counseling and consulting company. Book an appointment with a genetic counselor specialized in your area of concern. All genetic counseling appointments take place over secure, HIPAA-compliant video-conferencing or by phone. Not quite ready for genetic counseling but still looking for guidance? Check out our new family history review services here.