Management

The Hayakawa family had a son named Mark, who was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome. The family wanted to keep the child but were discouraged and advised not to by doctors. They felt differently about the situation. They felt their child lived on love, which was something they knew they could provide a great deal of. The family was not confident in the experts’ views because they seemed to have a lack of knowledge on the subject and it seemed as though they cared less then they knew about the illness.

The family decided to keep mark at home with them, not institutionalized. He had the freedom to grow and the personal care that is necessary to develop in a healthy situation. The Hayakawas felt that keeping Mark home was a good idea. He not only brightened their lives but their children’s lives as well. Mark could find joy in simple things, which can often reflect onto others. Mark was capable of accepting things as they were more so than most people of “normal” intelligence. The entire family benefited from the experience of living with Mark by learning to take situations in stride. The family learned patience and tolerance through helping Mark get through each day. Their readiness to deal with Mark carried over into a general method of dealing with people. Mark made them feel special.

The family benefited from not following the directions given to them by the experts. They felt as thou...