Emily Maynard Johnson is a mom for the sixth time after welcoming another baby, son Jones West, on Aug. 31.
“I am so grateful,”. “But I’m still on my journey of processing everything. And I have to trust that it will all turn out alright.”
Shortly after the delivery, Maynard Johnson learned that her son was born with Down syndrome as well as a rare congenital colon abnormality that required surgery and a monthlong stay in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
“I was in shock,” recalls Maynard Johnson of being informed of the Down syndrome diagnosis, which was confirmed by a blood test later on. (Maynard Johnson did not opt for genetic testing during her pregnancy). “It was not on my radar at all. And I refused to believe it. I just wanted to hold him and for everything to be okay.”
Absorbing the fact that her son needed to stay in the NICU and wouldn’t be home for weeks was “devastating,” says Maynard Johnson.
As they waited for Jones to be strong enough to come home (he has another surgery within a few weeks), Maynard Johnson leaned on her husband, and on her daughter Ricki.
“She’s been my best buddy through everything,” says Maynard Johnson. “When I was in the hospital she sent me 47 roses to represent Jones’ 47 chromosomes.”
And now that her son is finally home, Maynard Johnson says she’s relishing every moment with her “sweet and smiley” newborn.
Ultimately, “looking back on my life, a lot of things happened that I wouldn’t have planned,” says Maynard Johnson. “But I wouldn’t change my life for anything. And I wouldn’t trade Jones for any baby in the world.”
