Hi and welcome to the fundraising page for Jubster's Jokers--named in honor of John--who was lovingly nicknamed Jubster by his sisters when he was born.
Last year, thanks to the incredible generosity of family and friends, Jubster's Jokers raised over $7,000 for the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation. This year we are hoping to reach $10,000 in conjunction with the 4th Annual Romp for Research being held on October 4 in New York, a lofty goal I know.
As you know, John has Down syndrome, but what you may not know is that he loves pizza, ice cream, and fruit. He has no use for meat and vegetables, unless meatballs with tomato sauce counts. He can tell you the sound each letter makes even though he says very few words.
He can walk and is now working on walking up stairs. He likes doing puzzles, looking at books, building with blocks, playing in the pool and sandbox and being pushed on the swing. He likes watching his sisters play Wii and listening to them play the piano. John likes to play the piano too. He also likes hiding under a blanket with his dad and pretending he is in a tent. He is learning his colors, and he loves monkeys, lions, and giraffes. He is also trying to figure out how to put a DVD on by himself; something we are not really encouraging :)
Since he learns at a slower pace, he is still learning to talk. He receives speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and has a special education teacher. He claps when he does something right or when gets something he wants. He also is quite emphatic about telling you "no". He can say some words, but also uses sign language to communicate.
He is very affectionate. He is very generous with kisses and every time he gives one he says "tiss"--just to make sure you understood what it was. He is quick with a smile, and he has his sisters wrapped around his finger.
Thankfully, he made it through his open heart surgery like a champ and some of the other medical concerns associated with Down syndrome are under control. Overall, he is one happy and healthy kid.
As with anyone, we don't know what the future will bring for John, but we are doing all we can to help John reach his full potential, just as we are with his sisters.
The Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation is also investing in John's future by funding research. It is our hope that this research will one day lead to a treatment that will help improve cognition and learning in individuals with Down syndrome. The mission of the DSRTF is:
To stimulate biomedical research that will accelerate the development of treatments to significantly improve cognition for individuals with Down syndrome.
Treatments that will be developed as a result of DSRTF-funded research will help individuals with Down syndrome improve their memory, learning and speech, thereby allowing these individuals to participate more successfully in school and lead more active, independent lives.
During these tough economic times, we hope you would consider making a small donation to support our cause. Every little bit helps! It is because of organizations like the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation that research into this very specific area is even being conducted.
Donations can be made by credit card here online or by check made payable to the DSRTF. Checks can be mailed to us, and we will forward to the DSRTF. Also, if your company has a matching program, you can even get more from your fundraising dollar if you let them know about your donation.
Thank you for your support!
Bill, Christine, Katherine, Julia and John