A mom of six has gone viral after sharing news about her unborn child.
Allie Darr, who is pregnant with her seventh child, said she had a “weird instinct” that something significant was about to happen before receiving a call from her doctor.
“I wasn’t sure what it was or what it would involve, but I just felt like something in our life was about to shift,” the 38-year-old told Newsweek.
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Darr, from Chattanooga, Tennessee, had opted for a genetic screening for her unborn child because of a past experience. “We lost a son at 20 weeks in 2017 to a chromosomal abnormality, and since then, I’ve always done the genetic screening just to be prepared,” she said.
The phone call came with the news that Darr’s unborn child—a boy—had tested 86 percent positive for trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome.
@alliedarr
“The phone call felt like an out-of-body experience. It’s never a good sign when your doctor calls you, especially over a holiday week,” Darr said.
She said that when his name appeared on her phone screen, she braced herself for bad news.
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“After he said the results, my mind just started racing, and everything felt blurry. I felt like I was knocked off my feet and in a daze,” she added.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21. The condition can lead to developmental delays and health issues, such as heart defects and respiratory problems.
In a tearful video, Darr (@alliedarr) shared the news with her followers on Instagram. The clip received more than 120,000 views and hundreds of comments.
Parents with family members who have Down syndrome offered words of support, with one mom commenting: “My test came back positive as well, did an amniocentesis still same our daughter had an entire team ready at C-section and came out 100% healthy. I was prepared to love her no matter what. Praying for you and that sweet boy.”
Another Instagram user said their godfather had Down syndrome, writing: “I am now 52 and he is 70! He has loved me like his own. He is beyond smart. He fixes computers, can code and has the best laugh in the world.”
The reaction to her video, Darr said, has been “heartwarming,” and sharing her story has made her feel less alone.
“The parents from the Down syndrome community have literally scooped me up and made me feel so loved and seen,” she said.
Despite the news from her doctor, Darr is excited about welcoming a baby boy to her growing family, and her children are “thrilled” to be getting a brother, she said.
Darr told Newsweek: “They already know what’s going on, and said, ‘So? What’s the problem?’ Because to kids it’s simple—love your siblings regardless of what their chromosome makeup is.”
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