My name is Dan. I have a little girl who has Down syndrome.
Her name is Manon.
My wife, Lisa, and I are both essential workers and we are doing everything we can to keep our daughter safe.
Early on in the pandemic we noticed data coming out of Italy that did not bode well for people with Down Syndrome. As the pandemic spread throughout North America, that same data held true here. That, combined with scientists around the world pointing to aerosols as the main source of transmission, prompted us to increase our own safety measures.
I’ve been wearing a p-95/100 mask at work every day for well over a year, with our garage as my work change room. I am the sole ‘shopper’ for our essentials and I wear my p-100 there as well. Non essentials are purchased online.
Lisa is a teacher, so she’s been on unpaid leave since the beginning of the pandemic; and our kids are learning online only. Each member of our household has had to make sacrifices. We don’t go into other peoples homes. Manon’s oldest brother, David lives in Toronto and we’ve not seen him since Covid arrived. Her other brother Rene, older by a year, misses his friends and grandparents. Outside distancing visits or online are his only options.
Incidentally, he deserves all the credit for the editing and graphics for this video.
Prior to the pandemic, Manon would have a runny nose throughout the entire winter season.
The last time she, or anyone in our home had as much as a sniffle was the fall of 2019. Health measures do work.
I know that we can never be 100% safe but the point is to try, and not give up.
I would crawl through a pit of venomous snakes for my little girl; and what father wouldn’t? The difference is that not all fathers have a child with a condition that could be deadly if they got the virus.
It’s hard hearing about ‘Covid fatigue’, and people saying they’ve given up and are done with health restrictions. For us, this will never be an option.
I am not a hero; and I’m definitely not a rockstar. I’m just…..a dad; and we’re just a family doing the best that we can.
Be strong. Be safe. Every life matters.
I hope you like our video!