July 2022 Special Needs Living Akron/Canton

MEET THE LAMBERTS!

A Wonderful Family And A Beautiful Little Boy Named Liam

Family Spotlight By Andrea Hurr

In a beautiful neighborhood in Uniontown, you will find the Lambert family. Their family is made up of Dahllas and Kris, along with their four beautiful children. On June 20, 2020, they welcomed their 3rd child, Liam, into the world. Liam was not diagnosed with Down syndrome until birth, meaning their family was not aware of the journey their lives were about to take.

When they first learned of Liam’s diagnosis, they were emotional. Neither Dahllas nor Kris were knowledgeable about Down syndrome outside of a little information about the health issues children with the diagnosis can oftentimes have. The Lamberts were relieved when they were told that Liam did not have any heart conditions and was very healthy overall. Since Liam’s birth, they have been diving deep into research on Down syndrome and, even now, are still learning more every day.

As Liam has grown over the past two years, he has become such a funny, loving, rotten, and amazing little guy. Currently, he loves to spend time outside on his mat because he does not like the feel of grass. He loves being around people and being silly with them. The Lamberts were introduced to Gigi’s Playhouse Canton through their PT at Children’s Hospital. Recently Liam attended his first playgroup for little ones, and the family hopes to return soon! As Mom stated, “I loved that he could be around other kiddos his age.”

Liam currently looks up to his daddy. He just lights up when he sees his dad and becomes instantly sad when he leaves. His favorite color is blue, and he loves French toast with milk. His favorite tv show is The Wiggles, and he loves watching his sister’s softball team play. Liam’s older sisters love playing with him. Laughing together is something they are always doing unless Liam grabs a chunk of hair every now and then. Liam loves jumping on them when they are lying down watching tv. He also adores his baby sister, and she adores him as well. He loves trying to help her play and giving her things to play with!

Like most mothers, Dahllas is very protective of Liam. She also makes sure to educate everyone around her about people with Down syndrome. The best guidance Dahllas feels she can give a new parent would be, “All of the good and sad feelings, all the what-if questions, all of the future you imagine … All these feelings you feel in the beginning are 100% normal and you are not alone. There is a beautiful community out there to help you through this!” Recently, Liam’s mom was talking with someone whose baby was being tested for Down Syndrome, and they were absolutely terrified. She reassured them that crying, feeling happy, sad, and confused are all things that are not only normal but they are also 100% okay! When asked what the best advice is she can give to the world, she said, “Always be kind; you never know what people are going through!”

“Do your research, so you can do your best at helping your little one. Don’t always listen to what everyone tells you; every child is different in their own way because they are their own person. You are your child’s voice until they get their own!”