Meet the McHattie Family

The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio serves individuals with Down syndrome and provides valuable resources to their families.

At her 20 week ultrasound, my wife, Lori, and I first learned our unborn daughter had a heart defect.  A week later, a second ultrasound revealed an A/V canal defect.  We breathed a sigh of relief as the geneticist told us that this was a common and easily repaired issue.  Then the geneticist told us that there was a very high probability that our daughter also had Down syndrome.

The news occurred as our lives were in the midst of massive change.  I’d recently accepted a new job opportunity and was commuting each week to Central Ohio while Lori stayed behind in Western Pennsylvania to care for our two year-old son and sell our house.  I drove home on Friday nights and returned to Marysville on Sunday evenings.

Kara was born just after Thanksgiving 2015.  Shortly after Christmas, her heart defect led to emergent open heart surgery which went almost perfectly well.  In the days following the surgery, doctors discovered that Kara had developed necrosis in her colon, a potential side-effect from the heart-lung machine.  Kara had a temporary colostomy which was reversed in April.

We were finally all permanently relocated to Marysville in June 2016.  We’d spent the first seven months of Kara’s life addressing her immediate health needs, and as we unpacked in our new home, our focus shifted to her Down syndrome.  It’s difficult to describe all of the questions and worries for parents with a new diagnosis, and we took these on while adapting to our new home in a new town as I adjusted to a new job.

I will always remember the care package we received from DSACO.  I honestly do not remember the contents of the box, but I do remember the warm feeling of welcome and the relieving sense of connectedness it offered.  Shortly later, we attended the new parents’ welcome brunch, and we realized that Kari and her team were inspired by their hearts to touch the lives of others.

I have been involved with the D.A.D.S. (Dads Advocating for Down syndrome) group for over three years now and enjoy coming together with these men.  This group does a great deal to work together in support of DSACO and we talk about some of the specific challenges in our child’s development; often fellow fathers have experienced similar challenges and can provide details and reassurance.  I believe our greatest attribute is the emotional support we give to new fathers as they join our group.  I appreciate the opportunity to help provide the same level of comfort I received from other DADs when I first joined the group.

If I was asked to describe in one sentence what DSCACO has been to my family during the last few years, I would say that DSACO has played a vital role in supporting us with camaraderie and resources that have enriched our journey with Kara.

Ken McHattie

Dad to Kara