Born To Be Different

Programme one concentrates on the first year in the children's lives, when the differences between them and their peers first come to light. Emily's parents choose to go ahead with her birth, knowing that her Spina Bifida can cause paralysis and brain damage. Shelbie, the second child in her family to be born with a rare chromosome disorder Partial Trisomy 9p, struggles for every breath. Tuberous Sclerosis means William's parents are forced to decide between 60 epileptic fits a day and drastic brain surgery. Diagnosed with Down's Syndrome two weeks after he was born, Nathan's parents learn sign language to communicate with him. And Hamish's Achondroplasia, commonly known as dwarfism means his final height may be no more than four foot two.