Health is something that is very important. It keeps us going. It keeps us fit and strong. Understanding your health is important.
Building Healthy Habits
I stay healthy by going to the gym with my community support worker. Healthy eating is important too to keep my energy going. I try to stay away from junk food. I eat things like fish, meat, carrots and perogies. I often have banana or strawberry smoothies. I really enjoy my breakfast foods as breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I like milk but I am sensitive to it, so I take Lactaid pills and drink lactose free milk.
My goal for my health is to keep getting bigger, healthier and stronger. I can do this by being active, getting good exercise and getting lots of water.
I feel proud when I know when to get up, eat, clean myself, shave and shower. Good personal hygiene is a part of good health and is very important to all people – even in the Down syndrome world.
Getting Support with my Health
My parents are the first people to always help make decisions about my health. That is because they have been down the same road in life just like me. I will always benefit from their knowledge. When I go to the doctor, my mom Susan always goes with me. She helps by telling the doctor what is wrong, if I have any concerns, or if I’m sick. It’s always my mom who puts my appointments on my calendar. This way, I will not forget about them.
My parents have also helped me know which medicines to take when I’m sick. Sometimes I worry about which medicines to take when I don’t have someone to help me. In general, I don’t have to be worried about my health because my loving parents always help.
Doctors Visits and Health Checkups
I don’t mind getting check ups. This is when I talk about my health or any concerns with my doctor. My doctor checks my blood pressure, eyes and ears. If the doctor recommends, I go with Mom to get some bloodwork done. I also go to the dentist once or twice a year for a check up. There they do a cleaning. If I have a chip or if something feels wrong, they help with that also.
Every year I have an ECG on my heart. This is because I had a heart defect when I was young that needed surgery. When I have an appointment for an echocardiogram, my mom picks me up and we go there by car. Then we walk to get to the right office, we say what we are there for, and someone tells us where to go. When I get to the right room, I lay down and someone puts stickers and wires on me and tells me what to do and looks at my heart. When I’m done, I always ask them to remove the stickers and wires so that I can go back home.
I have gone to a lot of different doctors as I have grown up. It is easy to talk to my doctor. My doctor is a good listener. I feel very comfortable at the doctor’s office. When I do feel scared or worried, my mom is with me and the doctor’s office is always very welcoming. I always listen to the doctor and do what the doctor tells me.
Getting Older and Managing my Health
Every year I always do feel that I get older every time and that always makes me feel very good about my own life. It’s more tiring to go back and forth to all my activities now that I’m older. I don’t think my health will change much as I get older.
I think being independent and having knowledge about medical stuff is absolutely important, especially because my parents won’t always be with me. I want to be responsible for my own health and make decisions for my own health in the later years when my parents pass away. I might have to rely on other people like my godparents and sister to take me to my appointments.
I want every doctor or nurse to know that I am a very unique person and that I’m a very serious and responsible person in life. I want them to know all about my health. I need to be able to be independent, respected and have my health taken seriously by other people.
