Chapter 4

Zach was kept in the hospital nursery for ten days. On the eighth day my mom was finally able to hold him. During the day, mom would be home to spend time with us and after tucking us into bed, would race back to the hospital to be with Zach. Right before Halloween he came home, surrounded by those who loved him most. In the days to come, loved ones, friends, and ward members were being so kind and compassionate to my parents and our whole family. Pat Hoover and Stacey Phillips, friends of ours, were always taking the bigger kids for the day so my mom could rest and learn how to get a grip on some of Zach’s struggles as a baby. Without the support of these amazing people, it would have made life so much more difficult for my parents. Growing up, I’ve seen my mom do so much for other people and be anyone’s friend, and I know that this is why friends, family, and acquaintances were so willing to offer a hand. Both mom and dad are so grateful to them.

My name is Caitlin Sparks, and with the help of my mom, Olivia Swenson, we want to document our family’s life in the presence of Zach. From the time Zach was mobile, leading up to the age of seven, he managed to make headlines in our house almost everyday. The stories are endless, hilarious, sad, and stressful but have shaped and molded each member of our family into the people they are today. I want to take these stories and document them. This story of his birth may not sound all that interesting to you but it is just the beginning. I know that Zach is one of God’s most choice spirits and like our Savior, was born into an imperfect world to gain a body. In no way am comparing him to the Savior, but I do know that Zach is so special. Throughout his life, he has only taught and touched those around him. I also know that there are so many women and families out there who are struggling with the birth and development of a child with a disability. If hearing some of these stories and experiences help’s one person, then that’s all we could ask for. Best part of it all, you will laugh, there’s no doubt about that. Forgive my writing skills and stick around for more stories to come. Enjoy.

Chapter 3

Once my dad was informed they brought us in to fill us in on the news. Zach had been in the “special care nursery” so the whole family made the trek a couple halls away to see him. His breathing was not very strong and he had tubes coming out of him left and right. Even with all that, he was beautiful. To this day, he’s so beautiful. While visiting my new, baby brother a bizarre thing happened. The hospital began to shake. The floor tiles were doing this rolling thing that just looked unnatural. It lasted about 10 seconds and was not very strong. When it ended, we didn’t even give it another thought. Later that evening we would find out that it was one of the strongest earthquakes in U.S. History.

It was time to go home. My dad wanted to get over to our grandparent’s house to let them know about Zach. When we arrived, they were not home yet from a temple trip. Our great-grandparents, though, lived right behind them so my dad went to talk to them. Talking to my Grandma Nelly, he informed her of Zach having Down Syndrome. When he was done telling her all about it she said, “Todd, I always knew the Lord loved you, but I never knew how much until now.” My dad felt the Spirit wrap his arms around him and was so grateful for what my grandma had said. To this day, he says that line is engrained in his mind, something he will never forget.

Later on that evening is when the footage of the earthquake began. October 17, 1989, the “Quake of ‘89” took place. The earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area, measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, killing 63 California citizens and leaving a path of devastation and destruction. My mom sat and watched in her hospital bed, trying to suppress those post-partum emotions but could not contain herself. Glued to the screen, she watched as they continued to pull lifeless, American people from beneath the rubble. As she cried in that hospital room, a nurse walked in to see what was the matter. “Why are you crying?” she asked curtly, almost annoyed. My mom let her know that she was upset over what had happened and that she was feeling really emotional. The nurse responded to this sorrowful, weeping mother, “Well, if you want someone to talk to, I’ll go find someone.” Before my mom could even answer, the nurse had already left the room. Nobody came, but that was okay for my mom. I think she just needed a good cry. She continued to watch the documented destruction. The earthquake was tragic, but while watching the footage and sitting there alone in her hospital bed, my mom knew and felt that she would be okay. “I can do this!” she thought. Her son was here, alive, and healthy. Though he has a disability, she knew that the Lord had blessed her and trusted her with one of His most choice spirits. With love and gratitude in her heart, she couldn’t help but feel honored to have him teach and bless our lives for eternity.

Chapter 2

Monday came with trepidation. My mom was so anxious about this unfamiliar procedure. But in the back of her mind was that prayer that the baby had turned on its own. My mom lay on the hospital bed. The doctor entered and began to feel her stomach. As he felt around he said, “What a good baby!” My mom’s notion was correct. This angel baby had turned! Fears were put to rest and an overwhelming sense of relief took their place. She went home that Monday morning without the procedure and with a new conviction that all is well. Later on that evening, though, my mom went into labor.

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It was time for the baby to be born. The on-call doctor, a short, Italian man named Dr. Lancelotti, went on to encourage my mom to push with everything she had. Trying to be “Mister Caring Doctor”, Dr. Lancelotti kept talking to my mom to ease the tension, if that’s even possible. “What will you name it if it’s a boy or a girl?” He asked. My mom answered in a aggravated tone, “Can’t you see I’m trying to breath, here. Hee-hee-hee-whoo, hee-hee-hee-whooo.” The questions stopped, but a common tune rang from the doctor’s mouth. A song that marks the day of birth as a joyous, celebrated day. “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you…” Dr. Lancelotti continued to sing as my mom gave that final push. At that celestial moment, one of the sweetest, most choice spirits entered the room and not even a second later, the singing, coming from Dr. Lancelotti’s mouth, stopped. My little brother was whisked away to the nursery and Dr. Lancelotti could not get out of that hospital room quick enough. An uneasy, unsettled feeling quickly spread through my mom’s body from the crown of her head to the tips of her toes. It felt like her heart was in her stomach. Even though there was so much hustle and bustle going on around her, her mind was in a different place. She was with Zach. It was raining that day.

Hours went by and my mom had not seen her son yet. After giving birth there were some complications where the nurses could not get the bleeding to stop. My mom kept passing out and all she could think about was her perfect little man in the other room. Eventually, the bleeding stopped and nurses told her that she really needed to rest and that she would see her son soon enough. The next morning breakfast came along with a nurse to ask my mom a couple questions. “I’ve noticed that your arms have scars and marks on them. You’re not an IV drug user are you, Olivia?” The nurse had a look of cold, repugnance across her face. “No, I’m not, but when I’m nervous or stressed I have a habit of picking at my arms. That’s where those marks come from. These last couple days have been pretty stressful.” The nurse looked on and left the room with an animal like groan in response to my mom’s statement. “What was that all about?!” my mom thought. She was mystified by the conversation and couldn’t help thinking what brought it on.

Not long after the nurse left the room Dr. Tedford, our family doctor, entered. “Okay I just had to make sure it was you. Olivia, I will be right back. I need to set some nurses straight. I’ll be right back.” A couple minutes went by when Dr. Tedford returned. He sat at the foot of my mom’s hospital bed and began small talk with her. But, something inside my mom knew that he wasn’t just there to check on her. “Olivia, Zach is doing well. His breathing is a bit sloppy but that should correct itself in just a few days. But, we believe he has Trisomy 21.” “That’s Down Syndrome, right?” She asked. He continued to explain exactly what it meant. It means that Zach was born with all or part of an extra chromosome. Anyone born with that extra chromosome is left with some impairment of cognitive and physical abilities. Also, there are certain facial characteristics associated with Down Syndrome. Dr. Tedford left after talking to my mom for some time, trying to give her the basic knowledge of what condition had affected her son. She sat there, alone in her room, feeling overwhelmed and afraid. Being the proactive woman that she is, the thought that stood out in her mind was that she needed to get educated. She says today, “Looking back, I had no idea what this would require of me and of my family and I am so grateful. But, I knew that the Lord had my back and that, without a doubt, I was not alone in this.”

My dad came with the whole family, so excited to see our new little brother. Cody was seven, A.J. was five and I was almost three. Nurses hadn’t brought Zach in yet so my mom took that moment to have a talk with my dad. We sat outside the hospital room while my mom and dad, with their unwavering strength, discussed Zach’s disability. My dad was surprised by the news but was, and always has been, so strong and faithful. Through the years to come, the strength and faith of our family would be tested. A family bond is strong and divine and through the gospel of Jesus Christ our family would climb and overcome trials that, at the time, seemed impossible and insurmountable.

Chapter 1

In the middle of the night, on Monday, October 16, 1989, Todd Zachery Swenson was born. He was early, not being due until the 28th of that same month, but he came weighing 8 pounds 15 ounces. Thank goodness he came early! My mom, Olivia, was in labor at Sierra Vista Regional Hospital, located in San Luis Obispo, CA. Four hours went by and most mothers can relate when I say that you will do anything, be in labor for however long it takes, and push no matter how painful it may be, to hold that most perfect, beautiful baby in your arms.

* * *

Events leading up to the birth of my little brother were peculiar. My mom had another of the scheduled prenatal visits on the Friday before Zach was born. As was discovered at previous appointments, the baby was still in the breech position. When a baby is breech it means that they are upside down, not in the normal birthing position. His head was up by my mom’s ribs and every time she tried to bend over she couldn’t, having a human head thrust into her diaphragm and ribs. It was crucial that the baby turned or else a Cesarean Section would need to be performed when it came time for the actual birth. An appointment was made for the next Monday to conduct an external version procedure. The doctor will try to turn the baby by pushing against my mom’s stomach with motions that are proven to be safe and will, hopefully, help turn the baby. Before my mom left the doctor’s office she pondered upon what the doctor had said to her earlier. He said that, in general, it’s instinctual for babies to turn themselves when they are breech. My mom went back into the room to ask the doctor a quick question. “If it’s instinctual, then could it not know? Could something be wrong and it does not know to turn itself?” she asked. A mother’s instincts are always accurate. When the doctor replied she could tell he was a bit caught off guard by the question. He replied, “I can’t believe you asked me that! Well, I guess, but we’ll just hope that it does know.” The question seemed plausible to my mom.

That night my mom told my dad of the breech baby in her womb and what was discussed about it possibly not knowing to turn itself. My dad did what every supportive, caring husband would do and gave her comfort and reassurance that everything would be okay. He said, “Everything is going to be fine Liv, but if its not, we will handle it.” That night, while the house was quiet and sound, my mom lay awake with countless thoughts running through her mind. The “rock” that she is, though, she knew that what my dad said was true. With the Lord on their side, “…we will handle it.”

The next day was a standard Saturday, filled with soccer games. It was always a day we looked forward to as a family. Growing up I can remember being on the field with a sideline full of parents and families chanting and yelling at their kids. Not even having to look to the sideline, I could always pick out the voices of my mom, dad, and my brothers. While at A.J.’s soccer game, my mom undid her beach chair to sit and watch him play. She bent over and felt no pain. To confirm her impression, she bent over again and again to see if she was right. No pain. “Todd, Todd, I think the baby has turned!”