Sep 30, 2021
Your hosts, Tara Hedman and Diane Thompson welcome you to another episode of Examine Your Hedman Podcast. In today’s episode, they are joined by Kim Coe, a friend of Tara’s since Junior High.
Kim shares her journey as a mother of five beautiful children, two with disabilities, and the challenges and beauty of adoption.
Life really can suck less, so examine your head, man!
Key Takeaways:
[1:10] Tara and Diane give an update about their current lives.
[13:10] Tara introduces Kim.
[15:05] Kim talks about her process with one of her pregnancies and receiving news that her baby was at high risk of having Down Syndrome.
[22:30] Kim shares about the options her doctor gave her.
[25:35] Kim remembers sharing the news with her husband and how he responded with, “She is our daughter, we are going to love her.”
[26:55] Kim tells Tara she just found out her baby has Down Syndrome.
[28:20] Kim shares about her process and finding out the diagnosis was certain.
[31:06] Kim talks about the information and help that’s available now and the changes needed in the medical field.
[33:07] Kim talks about her process from finding out the diagnosis and the moment her daughter was born.
[34:55] Kim shares what her grief looked like.
[38:14] Kim discusses the difficulties and grace in sharing the news with friends and family.
[41:45] What was the hardest part for Kim in the first year after her daughter was born?
[43:37] Kim recognizes her daughter first, before her diagnosis.
[44:25] Kim shares her advice to parents who are expecting a child with Down Syndrome.
[47:43] Kim shares how she and her husband decided to adopt another child with Down Syndrome.
[52:10] Kim gets news they were chosen for adoption.
[53:42] Kim shares about stereotypes.
Mentioned in this episode:
Visit Examine Your Hedman
Email Kim at kim1coe@yahoo.com
Fasten Your Seatbelt: A Crash Course on Down Syndrome for Brothers and Sisters, Brian Skotko
This podcast is not a substitute for a therapeutic relationship with a mental health professional