When my son came into the world with Down syndrome, I put my signature on papers giving the hospital permission to place him somewhere else… But right as I was walking out, a nurse chased after me and said something that left me utterly shaken.

For a few moments, the words simply wouldn’t sink in.

What I remember most clearly was the look on the nurse’s face.

She seemed devastated, as if she’d delivered awful news to me before I’d even had a chance to meet my own child.

I looked over at Brian.

He was standing by the wall, pale and unmoving.

He didn’t once ask to hold him.

Eventually, he spoke:

— We can’t do this.

— What do you mean?

— We’re not ready. We’re too young for something like this.