A mum who felt blindsided after the birth of her son is now helping other parents who find themselves in the same situation.
Huyton mum Melanie Bratuhins, 35, said she was basically told to "get on with it" after her son Bobby, who is now five, was born with Down Syndrome.
Melanie said she was met with nothing but negative associations about Down Syndrome from day one, but is now working to change the optics on the condition, which affects about one in every 1000 babies.
The mum spoke to the ECHO after being put forward by her dad Kevin Bimpson for our Local Heroes prize draw. Kevin called her a "special person" for her work with the charity Down Syndrome Liverpool, where she helps expecting and new parents understand the condition in a way that doesn't present it as 'the end of the world'.
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Our Local Heroes prize draw is open, and you can nominate someone you think deserves a treat to show you appreciate the things they do for you. You can find how to enter below, as well as the entry form to nominate your local heroes for a chance to win some fantastic prizes.
Melanie is one of nine trustees at the charity and works to highlight the positives to having a child with Down Syndrome.
She told the ECHO about how the focus always seems to be on what a person with Down Syndrome can't do, rather than anything else.
She said: "When Bobby arrived it was a surprise. When I gave birth I didn't have anything signposted to me and I was more or less told to get on with it.
"I'm quite proactive so I thought there's got to be some local support for this. I didn't have any understanding throughout the pregnancy. There was nothing really like any support groups, and Down Syndrome Liverpool had been around for a while but the issue is nobody really knew it existed.
"There's just so many negative associations and I think when people get the news their kid has down syndrome it can be so scary. I think that first contact is so important.
"I think it makes a massive difference if it's someone there helping you through it who really knows."
Speaking about why he nominated Melanie, Kevin said: "She's one of five - they're all lovely but Mel really sticks out.
"If you look back, she was pretty lost in what was going on then. She realised the lack of signposting for parents.
"We were all in the wilderness at the time. It was then Mel had this stroke of lightning .
"She's married and has two kids and she juggles that with doing her work with the charity and other work.
"Mel is the most lovely person. I know I'm talking about my daughter but she is just so nice and so kind and that's why she fits so well into her role."
Melanie said: "I'm not doing it for myself. I like doing things for others and sometimes that's enough.
"I think when you're making a difference for people that's enough. I can't imagine what I'd be doing if I wasn't here.
"There's always that thought that I'm helping shape the future for people like Bobby."
How to enter
Let us know who you think should be given one of these fabulous prizes and why you think they deserve to receive it in no more than 200 words. Closing date for nominations is midnight on April 2, 2023. We’ll announce one winner per day during the week commencing April 10, 2023.
So, what are you waiting for? Fill in the form below or email liverpool.news@reachplc.com to let us know who you want to nominate to receive one of these fabulous prizes and we’ll make sure they have a day to remember.
