A Jan. 14 article in the Burlington Times-News featured Brian Baute,
assistant director of application technology, and his family. Baute and
his wife, Gretchen, have four children, including 1-year-old Caedon,
who has Down syndrome.
The story, by staff reporter Kadi Hodges, included interviews with
Brian and Gretchen Baute about their youngest child and how he has
become an important part of the family. The Bautes said their three
older children, Cameron, Kierstin, and Raegan, do their part to help
Caedon. The family also has a case worker, a physical therapist, a
genetic counselor and cardiologist to help with Caedon’s health needs.
Although Caedon has experienced some health problems, they have not
been debilitating, and the Bautes expect Caedon will attend preschool
at age 3 and later go to school with his siblings.
The Bautes worry that some couples would elect to end a pregnancy if
they discovered they were expecting a child with Down syndrome. The
Bautes said they have never reconsidered their decision not to use
prenatal testing to screen for birth defects with their four children.
“I wouldn’t give him back for the world,” Gretchen Baute said in the story. “I can’t imagine life without Caedon.”