A Mother's Journey: Finding Community and Hope for Her Child with Down Syndrome
By Amber Kaiser
Logan Magane entered the world as a bundle of joy in June 2023. While his parents were surprised by his Down syndrome diagnosis at birth, they quickly embraced the unique journey ahead. 
“My labor had already been very different from what I had envisioned, as we both had complications,” Logan’s mother, Thais Magane said. “When the doctor told us they wanted to test him for Trisomy 21, my heart sank.”
According to the CDC, Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the U.S. It’s also called Trisomy 21 because a baby with Down syndrome is born with an extra chromosome 21. Down syndrome affects how the brain and body develop, leading to varying levels of lifetime care needs.
Logan spent 14 days in the Cook Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). When he was discharged, he went home to meet his big brother.
When Logan was 2 and a half months old, he and his family met Cook Children’s Geneticist Alexandra Garza Flores, M.D.
“Logan has been a happy and charming little guy ever since I first met him,” Dr. Garza Flores said. “His diagnosis was not known prenatally, and so it was a surprise to his parents. However, they have been wonderful, proactive advocates for him from day one.”
Joining a Community of Supportive Families
Thais looked for local support and education and found the Down Syndrome Partnership of North Texas (DSPNT).
“DSPNT was very welcoming and absolutely incredible!” Thais shared. “Someone came to my house with a welcome basket and a ton of advice.”
Thais also turned to social media to communicate with others and share what she’s learned.
“They wasted no time in connecting with other families via social media and the local DSPNT, providing Logan with every resource available from the get go,” Dr. Garza Flores said.
Thais and her family have friends, family, church and work colleagues who’ve supported them. She joined the Abilities Team Member Resource Group at her work to support the Down syndrome community.
“Learning about the diagnosis can be overwhelming, but it’s opened us up to a wonderful world and community that we would have never known otherwise,” Thais said.
Caring for Logan and connecting with others has taught Thais a lot about what’s most important.
“My advice is that taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our babies,” Thais advised. “Find your sweet spot in the community.”
Becoming Passionate Advocates
Logan is now 16 months old. His body naturally takes more time to develop motor skills and other growth milestones. Thais advises others to focus on every child’s unique timeline.
“The amazing thing about Logan is that he surprises my family every single day,” Thais said. “And I work hard not to compare. Logan will show us in his own time.”
Dr. Garza Flores also keeps an eye on Logan’s growth.
“Today, Logan is cruising, blowing kisses and finding his voice! He loves his big brother and can charm anyone he meets,” Dr. Garza Flores said. “It’s a privilege to be part of Logan’s health care team and watch him grow.”
Logan's care coordination is also done with Cook Children's Early Support and care Transition (NEST) Center for his growth and development.
Thais and her husband also work with Early Childhood Intervention (ECI), a Texas state program that supports families with developmental delays, disabilities or certain medical diagnoses.
“I love ECI’s model of setting up 2-3 goals to work on instead of checking a long list of things we need to be able to do by a certain time,” Thais said.
Staying Excited About the Future While Managing Challenges
“Having Logan in my life is teaching me to slow down,” Thais said.
Thais and her family make accommodations, realizing they may have to for the rest of their lives. Even so, she’s excited to watch Logan’s personality form through his facial expressions, babbling sounds and interests.
“To me, the challenge remains with me,” Thais said. “I want to make sure I am the mama both my little boys need, and I take one day at a time. My baby is worth it. Logan is strong, handsome and has a beautiful smile that just makes you melt. Snuggling is the best!”
Thais and her husband’s unwavering love and dedication are a testament to the extraordinary potential that lies within every child.
National and Local DS Foundations
About Cook Children's Health Care System
Cook Children’s is more than a health care system: we strive to be an extension of your family, growing with your child from their first steps to adulthood. By collaborating to deliver on our Promise—to improve the well-being of every child in our care and our communities, we connect the dots for our patients. Between primary and specialty. Between home and medical home. Between short-term care and long-term health.
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, we’re 9,700+ dedicated team members strong, passionately caring for over 2 million patient encounters each year. Our integrated, not-for-profit organization spans two medical centers (including our state-of-the-art location in Prosper), two surgery centers, a physician network, home health services and a health plan. It also includes Child Study Center at Cook Children's, Cook Children's Health Services Inc., and Cook Children's Health Foundation. In 2024, Forbes named Cook Children’s the top health care employer in the U.S., and third on the list of ‘America’s Best Large Employers.’
And our impact extends beyond the borders of Texas. We proudly treat children from virtually every state in the nation and 32 countries. By seeing the world through the eyes of children and their families from all backgrounds, we’re able to shape health care suited to them: connected by kindness, imagination and respect—with an extra dose of magical wonder.
Discover more at cookchildrens.org.
