RE: CariAnn's newspaper article

[Guest guest]

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing that and for helping to educate the

world about MDS. Good luck CariAnn with the new job prospect!

CariAnn's newspaper article

CariAnn was interviewed in our local newspaper and I wanted to share how

well she presented herself. I apologize for the format of the article but I

wanted to share it with the group. I think she did very well. They had a

really nice picture of her in the paper as well but of course our group will

not let us attach pictures so you will have to take my word on that. After

the article came out a local group called wanting to hire her for a

part-time position. I hope it works out for her!.

Hope your summer is going well!

Laraine

CariAnn wants to tell the world

about her rare genetic condition

By KRISTEN HARDING

Lethbridge Herald

CariAnn Hougen is on a

mission to tell the world

about Mosaic Down Syn-

drome and create greater

awareness and understanding

about the rare genetic condition.

Hougen is one of only three

people she knows of in Western

Canada bom with MDS and until

attending the national Voices at the

Table conference hosted by the

Canadian Down Syndrome Society

" last month in Toronto, her

condition wasn't something she

broadcast to the world.

But that's all changed.

" MDS isn't well known at all and I

really want to make it a household

name, " she said.

Down Syndrome is a

chromosomal disorder caused by

an error in cell division that results

in the presence of an additional 21

chromosome. According to the

National Institute of Child Health

and Human Development, in two to

four per cent of Down Syndrome

cases, mosaicism occurs. Mosaic

Down Syndrome means the extra

chromosome is present in some,

but not all, cells.

Hougen says only one per cent of

people worldwide have MDS.

" I believe I was the first in

Western Canada, " she said, adding

she was 15 when her parents told

her about the condition. ;

" At first I was devastated. I was -

angry. But I understand why they

waited. " • .

Hougen doesn't exhibit any of the

physical attributes typically

associated with Down Syndrome '

and she says other than a bit of a

learning disability, she progressed

normally through school.

" It might take me three or four

times to leam something new, but

once I get it, I get it, " she said.

The biggest problem MDS poses,

she added, is a 50/50 chance that

any children she has could be born

with full Down Syndrome.

Hougen, who was born and

raised in Foremost, graduated from

Lethbridge Collegiate Institute and

earned a diploma in computer

accounting from the Academy of

Learning. Currently she's working at

Subway but says her dream job

would be an administrative position

with a non-profit organization.

Hougen admits she's a bit of a

procrastinator and it was her

mother, Laraine, who really

encouraged her to get involved with

the Toronto conference. Prior to the

conference she also travelled with

her mom to Blackpool, England, for

an international Down Syndrome

gathering.

Now she's thinking about

applying to become an ambassador

at the 2006 World Down Syndrome

Congress in Vancouver.

In her spare time, Hougen keeps

busy doing " anything and

everything " from walks and picnics

with her boyfriend to painting,

computer games and dancing.

For families or parents dealing

with Down Syndrome, a local

support group, called Upside Down

in LA., is available to help.

The small group started with

about six families and has grown to

include about a dozen. The

organization hosts meetings twice a

month and other activities

throughout the year.

For more information about

Upside Down in LA., call Flora

MacKay at 328-8041.

For information about Mosaic

Down Syndrome, visit mosaic

www.mosaicdownsyndrome.com or

org, The Canadian Down Syndrome

Society at HYPERLINK " http://www.cdss.ca/ " www.cdss.ca or the

egroup for MDS kids and adults

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MDSkids/

--

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[Guest guest]

I would love to see the article. Do you mind emailing it directly to me at

kcrdi@...

Thanks,

( 21 mds)

CariAnn's newspaper article

CariAnn was interviewed in our local newspaper and I wanted to share how

well she presented herself. I apologize for the format of the article but I

wanted to share it with the group. I think she did very well. They had a

really nice picture of her in the paper as well but of course our group will

not let us attach pictures so you will have to take my word on that. After

the article came out a local group called wanting to hire her for a

part-time position. I hope it works out for her!.

Hope your summer is going well!

Laraine

CariAnn wants to tell the world

about her rare genetic condition

By KRISTEN HARDING

Lethbridge Herald

CariAnn Hougen is on a

mission to tell the world

about Mosaic Down Syn-

drome and create greater

awareness and understanding

about the rare genetic condition.

Hougen is one of only three

people she knows of in Western

Canada bom with MDS and until

attending the national Voices at the

Table conference hosted by the

Canadian Down Syndrome Society

" last month in Toronto, her

condition wasn't something she

broadcast to the world.

But that's all changed.

" MDS isn't well known at all and I

really want to make it a household

name, " she said.

Down Syndrome is a

chromosomal disorder caused by

an error in cell division that results

in the presence of an additional 21

chromosome. According to the

National Institute of Child Health

and Human Development, in two to

four per cent of Down Syndrome

cases, mosaicism occurs. Mosaic

Down Syndrome means the extra

chromosome is present in some,

but not all, cells.

Hougen says only one per cent of

people worldwide have MDS.

" I believe I was the first in

Western Canada, " she said, adding

she was 15 when her parents told

her about the condition. ;

" At first I was devastated. I was -

angry. But I understand why they

waited. " . .

Hougen doesn't exhibit any of the

physical attributes typically

associated with Down Syndrome '

and she says other than a bit of a

learning disability, she progressed

normally through school.

" It might take me three or four

times to leam something new, but

once I get it, I get it, " she said.

The biggest problem MDS poses,

she added, is a 50/50 chance that

any children she has could be born

with full Down Syndrome.

Hougen, who was born and

raised in Foremost, graduated from

Lethbridge Collegiate Institute and

earned a diploma in computer

accounting from the Academy of

Learning. Currently she's working at

Subway but says her dream job

would be an administrative position

with a non-profit organization.

Hougen admits she's a bit of a

procrastinator and it was her

mother, Laraine, who really

encouraged her to get involved with

the Toronto conference. Prior to the

conference she also travelled with

her mom to Blackpool, England, for

an international Down Syndrome

gathering.

Now she's thinking about

applying to become an ambassador

at the 2006 World Down Syndrome

Congress in Vancouver.

In her spare time, Hougen keeps

busy doing " anything and

everything " from walks and picnics

with her boyfriend to painting,

computer games and dancing.

For families or parents dealing

with Down Syndrome, a local

support group, called Upside Down

in LA., is available to help.

The small group started with

about six families and has grown to

include about a dozen. The

organization hosts meetings twice a

month and other activities

throughout the year.

For more information about

Upside Down in LA., call Flora

MacKay at 328-8041.

For information about Mosaic

Down Syndrome, visit mosaic

www.mosaicdownsyndrome.com or

org, The Canadian Down Syndrome

Society at HYPERLINK " http://www.cdss.ca/ " www.cdss.ca or the

egroup for MDS kids and adults

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/MDSkids/

--

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Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.

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[Guest guest]

Glad to hear that everyone is doing well in England. Our thoughts and

prayers are with everyone!!! Great article with Cari Ann!!! Looking forward

to

seeing everyone in Calgary!!! Judy....you will not be there? Will really miss

seeing you guys!!! Ross and the Boys