I Just Am A Story of Down Syndrome Awareness and Tolerance This is a story about a young man with Down syndrome. These are his thoughts and feelings regarding his disability. It is written with help from his dad and much love. All too often, we shroud ourselves in ignorance, thus preventing... more

I Just Am A Story of Down Syndrome Awareness and Tolerance This is a story about a young man with Down syndrome. These are his thoughts and feelings regarding his disability. It is written with help from his dad and much love. All too often, we shroud ourselves in ignorance, thus preventing us from learning from others whom we consider to be somehow "different." In a book that is both charming and disarming, Bryan Lambke-a young man with Down syndrome-invites us into his world where he lets us know he shares the same dreams and emotions as everyone else. "I have a disability," says Bryan. "It is not my fault. I just am." Bryan, with the help of his father Tom, helps us all examine what is normal about each of us. The book includes additional information about Down syndrome. Introduction to I Just Am by Cheryl Rogers-Barnett "When my baby sister Robin Elizabeth was diagnosed with Down syndrome, our parents were advised to find a hospital where she could live out the short life expectancy associated with her condition. “Don’t take her home…she will never recognize you…she will never live past her 20th birthday… don’t get attached… getting attached will just break your heart.” That was the prevailing feeling and advice of the medical profession towards children with Down’s in 1950. Our parents, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, refused to take their advice. They insisted upon bringing Robin into our home, where she had two sisters (Cheryl, 10 and Linda Lou, 7) and two brothers (Tom, 23 and Dusty, 4). For the next two years, Robin had as normal a life as a baby with health problems could have while living in a family with world-famous parents. She was never hidden from the spotlight but was protected as much as possible from too many people and too much excitement at one time. Even though Robin didn’t live to see her second birthday, for the fifty years following her death, her short life has exerted a positive influence upon untold thousands of people. When Mom wrote her first book and told Robin’s story in Angel Unaware, no one could predict that 50 years later, Mom’s little book would still be the book that friends and relatives would give when a handicapped child was born or a beloved child was lost. All proceeds from Angel have been used to fund research on Down syndrome, as Mom always said that Angel Unaware was a gift from God. she never could have written it herself. I hope you will find Bryan’s story to be a gift to you and those you love. That it will enrich your lives and give you a better understanding and appreciation of how truly special these 'special children' are." - Cheryl Rogers-Barnett