{"id":316646,"date":"2024-08-05T10:45:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-05T15:45:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=316646"},"modified":"2024-08-04T21:25:51","modified_gmt":"2024-08-05T02:25:51","slug":"spent-teen-years-raising-sister-down-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/spent-teen-years-raising-sister-down-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"She spent her teen years raising her sister with Down syndrome, and has no regrets"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Sarah Francati is sharing the story of how she raised her sister with Down syndrome after their mother was diagnosed with cancer.<\/p>\n

Francati was just 15 years old when her mother was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer, she told PEOPLE<\/a>. Her younger sister, Emily, who has Down syndrome, was five years old at the time. Doctors estimated her mother’s tumor had been growing for 10 years, and her prognosis was poor. She would need to undergo surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. She asked Francati to take over caring for Emily.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn’t have someone who was like, \u2018This is what you do, step by step.’ I was like, \u2018Well, I know what to do with my other siblings. I’ve done that. Can’t be much different,'” said Francati, who is now 27. \u201cShe was sick for years, in and out of the hospital. Emily and I grew incredibly close. I graduated high school early so I could be home, I could be present.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a way, that lack of parenting experience helped Sarah to be less fazed by Emily’s Down syndrome. \u201cIf she needed help [it] was available to her, but there were never limitations because mainly I didn’t know,\u201d she said. \u201cI have never looked at her and thought to myself, \u2018Oh, I need to hide her away. Oh, I need to infantilize her. I need to treat her like a child.'”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
@sar_carolyn<\/a> Its me & you forever. #ourstory<\/a> #motherhood<\/a> \u266c Work Song – Other Voices Series 19 – Hozier<\/a><\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n