Personal Experience Encourages Dunes Family to Join Buddies for Life:

A journey of learning, sharing and caring started for one Dunes's family when their fifth child took her first breath in September of 2005.

Mike and Daniell Bargstadt of Dakota Dunes have been proactive supporters for Down Syndrome awareness since the day Olivia presented them with the challenge.

"She's happy, she's healthy," Daniell told excited family and friends after the birth of her daughter. "At what point do you say, well, she has Down Syndrome."

Olivia is lucky. Down Syndrome can effect individuals to different degrees, and attack different body systems. This 2 1/2 year old avoided the common heart, lung, hearing and gastrointestinal problems associated with Down Syndrome.

As she runs in circles playing 'duck,duck goose' you'd never know she suffers from low muscle tone. Physical therapy and occupational therapy since she was just a few months old has helped her develop her muscle tone. Since she began walking around the age of 2, her muscles continue to strengthen.

Welcome Home Olivia
Olivia was welcomed home by her four siblings; Emma (4), Caitlyn (7), Ben (8) and Ashley (10).

And to them, she is just their little sister.

"We've explained it. It's how she is. So, it doesn't matter," Daniell explained."To us it's just how she is. You know, if one of the kids has a broken arm, that's just how they are. You know you don't introduce them and say, "This is my son Ben with a broken arm." I don't say, "This is my daughter Olivia with Down Syndrome.""

However, the siblings want to help their little sister when she takes longer to do things.

"That's probably been the hardest, for the kids anyway," Mike explained. "They want to help too much, because of their patience level."

While playing on their outdoor playground set, big brother Ben encourages Olivia to hurry up so he can get to the slide. But, quickly dad reminds him to let her be. She needs to work her own muscles, and climb at her own pace.

Surprise at the Hospital
During Daniell's fifth pregnancy, the Bargstadt's decided their family was complete. Just after delivery, the family would find out their last child would also change present a new challenge.

"We didn't know during our pregnancy," Daniell explained of Olivia's condition. "We were in the hospital and they came to me and they said, "We think she has Down Syndrome." And, then you go into pure shock and denial."

The Bargstadts has just finished a healthy 9 month pregnancy, and normal labor and delivery. They had no indications their daughter would be born with Down Syndrome.

After she was born, Olivia underwent blood tests to confirm what doctor's had unofficially diagnosed after delivery.

"So, for two weeks you're just sitting there staring at your child wondering, "Is it true?"," Daniell explained. "Of course nobody wants anything to be wrong with their child."

More to Learn
From that day forward, the Bargstadt's began learning more about Down Syndrome. They scoured the internet for information. They called state representatives and organizations in Omaha and Kansas City.

And finally, they found Buddies for Life.

Daniell was hesitant to go to a Down Syndrome support group, because she wasn't looking for a sob session.

"I had talked to some people that had gone and they said it's not really like that. We're just trying to get awareness out. So, then I started going to the meetings regularly. And then they asked me if I wanted to be on the board, so we can try to move it out of just Sioux City," Daniell explained of the support group.

The non-profit organization started in 2006 by a group of people who wanted to help create awareness about Down Syndrome, and provide support for parents and family members of those effected.

Buddies for Life meets quarterly, but members know support is always just a phone call or email away. Members plan regular play dates for their children, and someday hope to have an offical location for the growth an enrichment of their children.

Gigi's Playhouse Awaits
A Chicago based Down Syndrome group started a facility called Gigi's Playhouse as a resource center and gathering place for those touched by Down Syndrome. And now Buddies for Life is advocating for a Siouxland facility.

"Once we get have a Gigi's Playhouse, that could be a central meeting place. It could be open everyday," Daniell explained.

Buddies for Life has been approved to opened the facility. They have their 10-board member structure in place, over 30 families as members and the drive to make it happen. Now, they are looking for a location, and the donations to make it happen. They would even be happy to partner with local medical professionals to make this dream facility a reality.

Guidance from the Chicago based facility suggests a strip mall location, for increased visibility. Locating near medical facilities would make the playhouse an easy stop during visits to the doctor.
The playhouse will offer regular playtime hours with skill enhancing toys, muscle building activities, visits from medical professionals, a resource center complete with computer lab and all the caring and understanding a parent could hope for who is learning about Down Syndrome.

"It's all about Down Syndrome, whatever the age," Daniell explained about the facility. "Gigi's is going to gain us that awareness."

Creating Awareness
But until the playhouse becomes a reality, Buddies for Life will create awareness in the community one step at a time.

The group has created 'celebration packets' to be distributed to new parents of Down Syndrome babies. Included are books, informational packets and support from Buddies for Life.

On September 20 the group will host the Buddies for Life Siouxland Downs Syndrome Awareness Walk at North Middle School in Sioux City. The day long fundraiser will also feature informational booths and children's activities.

"We'll have a huge kid's zone, funhouses, blow-up slides, games, face painting. Fun for all," Daniell said.

And each day, the Bargstadt's try to help create a little more awareness to help all those effected by Down Syndrome. Through Buddies for Life, the dreams of a Gigi's Playhouse and by raising their youngest daughter, Olivia.

"They might look a little different, they might do things at their own pace, but they're just an average person. They're no different than all of us," Daniell commented.

For more information about, or to join Buddies for Life, please call Daniell Bargstadt at 605-422-1366.

***This article was originally published in the North Sioux City / Dakota Dunes Times by Sedgwick Publishing.***