Emily Schipper
Fundraising on behalf of Rising Kites
March 2026 Giving
$410.15
Raised
2
Donations
$3,210
Goal
I’m a family physician, an MSU grad and a Calvin College alum but my proudest title Henry’s mom.
As a Calvin alum I received the alumni magazine, the Spark, one mid December day 2021 and read about an alum who had started an organization to celebrate the gift of Down syndrome, and celebrate especially at the precious precarious time of parents receiving the diagnosis. As a family doc who delivered babies after reading the article I emailed Danielle to request some bags to have on hand for my own patients. What a resource to have available for families to be both informative and celebratory at a time when they need it the most.
One week later my husband and I went in for a routine 20 week ultrasound for our long awaited and prayed for pregnancy. Twenty minutes after our ultrasound I received a call that we had to go to the high risk clinic. Our baby was diagnosed with fetal hydrops. He had fluid on his brain, spinal cord, lungs, heart and kidneys. We were told he would die in utero before the third trimester. We did an amniocentesis to determine any reason for hydrops and that’s when we learned of his Down syndrome diagnosis.
I hadn’t yet received the Rising Kites bags at the office so I sent an email to Danielle to ask if she could include an extra bag…for me.
These were the shortest days of the year, some of the longest days of my life, waiting for the kicks to stop. Each week we went for an ultrasound looking for a lack of heartbeat. Six weeks later Henry’s hydrops miraculously went away. Our doctors had no explanation. We were thrilled but fearful as now we got to imagine delivering and getting to parent and love our son with Down syndrome.
They call it the lucky few. The club you never dreamed of or knew you wanted to be in. Rising Kites steps into the fear, into the unknown alongside you and says congratulations! Your baby - they are loved and they are valued. Once you’re there you realize what a joy and gift it is. Not easy but so so rich.
I am so thankful for the work of Danielle and Rising Kites to celebrate the gift of Down syndrome and am grateful to you for the opportunity to continue to support the wonderful work that they do. Let's celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21 by supporting this fantastic organization...and don't forget to rock your socks!
As a Calvin alum I received the alumni magazine, the Spark, one mid December day 2021 and read about an alum who had started an organization to celebrate the gift of Down syndrome, and celebrate especially at the precious precarious time of parents receiving the diagnosis. As a family doc who delivered babies after reading the article I emailed Danielle to request some bags to have on hand for my own patients. What a resource to have available for families to be both informative and celebratory at a time when they need it the most.
One week later my husband and I went in for a routine 20 week ultrasound for our long awaited and prayed for pregnancy. Twenty minutes after our ultrasound I received a call that we had to go to the high risk clinic. Our baby was diagnosed with fetal hydrops. He had fluid on his brain, spinal cord, lungs, heart and kidneys. We were told he would die in utero before the third trimester. We did an amniocentesis to determine any reason for hydrops and that’s when we learned of his Down syndrome diagnosis.
I hadn’t yet received the Rising Kites bags at the office so I sent an email to Danielle to ask if she could include an extra bag…for me.
These were the shortest days of the year, some of the longest days of my life, waiting for the kicks to stop. Each week we went for an ultrasound looking for a lack of heartbeat. Six weeks later Henry’s hydrops miraculously went away. Our doctors had no explanation. We were thrilled but fearful as now we got to imagine delivering and getting to parent and love our son with Down syndrome.
They call it the lucky few. The club you never dreamed of or knew you wanted to be in. Rising Kites steps into the fear, into the unknown alongside you and says congratulations! Your baby - they are loved and they are valued. Once you’re there you realize what a joy and gift it is. Not easy but so so rich.
I am so thankful for the work of Danielle and Rising Kites to celebrate the gift of Down syndrome and am grateful to you for the opportunity to continue to support the wonderful work that they do. Let's celebrate World Down Syndrome Day on March 21 by supporting this fantastic organization...and don't forget to rock your socks!
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