Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is more prevalent than many other commonly known neurodevelopmental disabilities combined. Yet awareness, understanding, and available services remain low, inconsistent or nonexistent. It is also often misdiagnosed. This creates significant challenges for individuals, families, and communities.
When you aren’t familiar with FASD – its symptoms, behaviors, and impacts – supporting or caring for someone with FASD can be difficult, often leading to frustration for everyone involved. But once you learn about it and make a perspective shift (which I found is one of the hardest steps) relationships improve, and success becomes possible.
Here, you’ll find stories from our FASD journey, along with support, resources, and information to help guide your own journey.
Mindfulness and the Caregiver Journey
Mindfulness has been an essential part of my journey as a caregiver. I learned the importance of regulation through breathing and focus with a practice called Sacred Breathwork. This ancestral practice emphasizes the power of thought and the creative potential of mindful breathing. Our breath is sacred—it is our life force, and it can help regulate us when we are dysregulated.
A key part of my caregiver journey has been healing my past so I can fully live in the present. It involves learning to pause and respond rather than react. It’s a process I practice for myself and teach my daughter. These stories—our Sacred Breath—are told from my point of view, interwoven with lessons from my mother, my daughter, and others I’ve learned from along the way.
Click on the FASD Life Blog button on the main menu above to view the latest blog post.
Click FASD on the Web to find useful links and I am the Mother if you’d like to know a little bit out more about who is the person behind the blog.
Looking for FASD Swag or Gear?
April started with 5 Months to FASD Month, but also a Full Moon (known as Pink Moon in some areas) and the launch of Artemis II – with the return of a crew of 4 flying to moon! In recognition of this, we are highlighting our Moon Collection – a little something for the Red Shoe Connection Crew, Selenophiles, Light Lovers and more! You can scan the QR Code to go directly to the Our Sacred Breath Redbubble Shop or see below for direct links to each design.
Direct links:
Looking for Something Different?
We have over 50 unique designs, so there’s something for everyone – ranging from Red Shoes Rock, FASD, Parenting/Caregiver, Advocacy, special collections and meaningful themes.
All designs are available in a variety of colours, styles, and on over 70 products. As an international ordering site, prices will reflect the currency for your country.
Important: Please ensure you are on the Our Sacred Breath account. Unfortunately, fake accounts sometimes sell designs that do not belong to them. If you’re unsure, feel free to reach out or favourite our Redbubble Shop page for easy access.
99 Days to FASDay Series
For those new to the series, the 99 Days to FASDay campaign ran each June to September from 2017 to 2023, as that was the 25th anniversary of International FASD Awareness Day. Each day I shared one fact, quote, tip, or historical note about FASD each day, for 99 days, leading up to International FASD Awareness Day on September 9.
FASDay was born in 1999 (by two Canadians and an American) as an idea to recognize the 9 months of pregnancy on September 9 each year. It has spread around the globe. Since 2015, I have participated in the Red Shoes Rock grassroots movement to raise awareness about FASD, with a focus leading up to FASDay. The 99 Days to FASDay series was my contribution in 2017.
If you want to know the history of Red Shoes Rock, check out the blog post: Red Shoes Rock and 99 Days to FASDay or visit the Red Shoes Rock website.
Our Sacred Breath Blog turned 10 in 2024!
Thank you to everyone who has been here since the beginning and to those who have joined along the way. The blog continues to undergo a careful review as I update posts for language and ensure all links remain valid. As a result, you may find that some posts have been moved or are temporarily unavailable.
I am honored when people share posts or information from this site but please credit the source and do not alter graphics, links, or references. If you have any questions, you can contact me using the details below.
If you find broken links or missing acknowledgements, credit, or references, please provide the details by sending me an email.
I’m not sure where this next decade will take me, but I’m excited about some new ideas and possibilities under consideration.
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