[tri-wings] Re: balloons

>Can someone explain to me the original concept behind the balloons  thing? 
>Of course I have ideas of my own by now but I never knew the  original. Thanks.

Sonya,

I can tell you why SOFT USA does it at their conferences.  This blurb is taken
straight from a "Ryan Cantrell Memorial Balloon Celebration" program from 
2005 Rochester, New York.  

"In 1987, Steve and Peggy Cantrell stood at the Fierst SOFT conference held in
Salt Lake City and shared the life of their son Ryan with those in attendance.  
They read a poem and described how, at his funeral, they chose to celebrate 
his life by releasing balloons for him.  In honor of Ryan and the other children
who are no longer with us, we celebrate and honor them today.  It is with great
love that we have chosen to remember our children at the Ryan Cantrell 
Memorial Balloon Celebration."

Ryan's dad is an eye doctor, who also brings the tiniest of sun glasses to every
conference to give to the rare trisomy babies so that the sun won't bother 
their eyes at the release.


Fawna, mom to Philina 23 yrs (PT6p & Moya Moya Syndrome)
Research Coordinator: Tracking Rare Incidence Syndromes 
(TRIS) project - We are currently enrolling all varieties of rare
trisomy, living & deceased, for the main project database.  To 
include your child's data and help update the medical literature 
please see: http://web.coehs.siu.edu/Grants/TRIS/
And to add a link for your Trisomy child's personal web page 
please see: http://www.livingwithtrisomy.org/
                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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