Kavita & Himanshu – 1st Indian couple to adopt baby with Down syndrome

Kavita and Himanshu are the first Indian couple to adopt a baby girl with Down syndrome.

“God knew that it doesn’t matter how your children get to your family. It just matters that they get there”. Motherhood is bliss. You can not compare any other feeling to holding your newborn child. But then, mothers like Kavita believe that motherhood is not just about giving birth to a baby. There are so many children around us who are waiting to be embraced by a loving family.

Kavita and her husband decided long back during their courtship period to adopt a baby girl, no matter they have a biological kid or not. Kavita, an HR professional and a preschool teacher, got married to Himanshu, an IT professional, and moved to the US for better career prospects. The couple came to know about Down syndrome when they met a few children with this genetic condition during their stay in the US.

[Down syndrome is a genetic condition where the third copy of chromosome 21 is present. The condition is associated with physical growth delays, characteristic facial features, and mild to moderate intellectual disability.]

They were determined to adopt a baby girl with Down syndrome, and as Kavita said, “there were no reasons not to do this.” They contacted CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority), the legal body in India that manages the adoption procedure. However, they were not allowed to register on CARA because they were on work permits in the US. However, this didn’t hold them back from making their dream come true. The couple came back to India only for this and got themselves registered in 2017.

Veda with Down syndrome in their life 

Soon, they welcomed home their little princess “Veda.” Little Veda has Down syndrome, but she has completed Kavita and Himanshu’s life. As Kavita recalls fondly, the journey has been mesmerizing, and it makes her feel complete. Although Veda has emotional and physical delays due to Down syndrome, the couple is delighted that Veda has accepted them so well. Kavita no longer follows the milestone chart. “Whatever Veda can achieve is a milestone for us,” says the proud mother.

However, it has not been a path of roses for Kavita and Himanshu. The couple faced a lot of challenges, but they overcame all the odds. As Kavita recalls, “there was not much family support as adoption is still a taboo in India. And, we were going to adopt a child with Down syndrome. But, the best thing about my husband and me is, we never bothered about others. Neither did we look for support. However, Veda won the heart of everyone, and the family has started accepting her. She is a happy and loving child who loves to enjoy the company of others.”

For Kavita, her husband has been her pillar of support, and she wishes our society to have more such men. Kavita is now home-schooling the 3-year-old Veda. She says that people are either ignorant or rude or stare at Veda whenever they go out. But, Kavita and Himanshu are never bothered by people’s attitudes. They take her out every day to the park, shopping mall, and other public places.

To spread awareness of Down syndrome, Kavita has resorted to social media channels where people can catch a glimpse of Veda’s life. Kavita says, “When I began my journey, I had no resources to look upon. I am glad if this could help anyone in any way.” She further adds, “You don’t realize until you see it. And that’s the purpose of starting a social media channel for Veda.

Kavita says, “I feel happy when parents of disabled children get in touch with me from remote corners of the country to learn more about how to deal with such situations, how to convince the family, etc. I feel motivated if I can impact the lives of some parents with some amount of positivity.”

It is what Kavita has to say to all the prospective adoptive parents who wish to adopt a special need child as well as to those parents who have a special need biological child:  

“Always look for your tribe, talk to the parents of special needs children, and don’t think it as a burden. None of us are perfect. Focus on the capabilities of the child and not on the disabilities. Be positive. Trust your kid and give them time to bloom. Also, ensure you are prepared mentally, emotionally, and financially.”

Kudos to you, Kavita and Himanshu! 

Veda’s social media pages:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpZ2qCCDuYFUWllyHL4wsDQ/featured

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/extrachromieveda/?hl=en

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