Comments on: Down’s Syndrome

By: Tamara

Tamara — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:10:44 +0000

I started reading this and had to respond. I was 33 years old when I got pregnant for the 1st time. We were elated. At week 17 of our pregnancy we went in for a routine sonogram and we were sent to a high-risk doctor the same day as my OBGYN found abnormalities with our sweet little girl. Much to our dismay, we learned on March 8, 2005 that our baby would most likely have Downs, 4 heart defects, GI problems, short femurs, and we were encouraged to abort as we were told that Hannah would not live after birth. We were disgusted by the doctors \”suggestion\” especially when we said absolutely no to abortion and he told us we were thinking emotionally instead of logically. We then informed him abortion was murder and only God had the right to take a human life. Now, 3 years later, we have a beautiful little girl named Hannah, yes she did live. She has had 2 open-heart surgeries, no GI problems, no short femurs, other than the heart, she had no problems. She is the light of our lives and we would have missed out on the complete JOY of her if we had listened to our doctor and aborted her. Abortion is murder and it is disgusting to me that just because people find out that they are going to have a disabled child, they think that sweet precious little unborn life is not worth anything. I get so sick of \”a woman\’s right to choose\”….your choice is made when you get pregnant…..there should be no law that allows anyone to terminate a life after it is conceived! Life begins at conception!!! So, I have walked in the shoes of a person giving birth to a baby with DS and I would do it all again wholeheartedly! My child is the best thing that ever happened to me and my life centers around her. She is smart, funny, BEAUTIFUL and an inspiration to many. She is God\’s precious gift and I feel blessed that God chose me for her.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 21:47:47 +0000

I would hope parents who learn their unborn baby has Down syndrome would meet the many families who actually live with children with Down syndrome. My teenage daughter was born with this and yes, she has medical issues (heart defects w/open heart surgery, seizures). She also has a triumphant spirit, wonderful sense of humor and caring heart. Most of her peers don\’t have medical issues as severe as hers. They also have something to offer, as does she.

Is her life a parade of endless suffering? No. Could all of her medical issues be predicted before birth? No. Could her degree of functioning/ IQ be predicted before birth? What about her potential? Again, no to all of these.

Those who say they shouldn\’t judge people until they walk in their shoes are right – and they should consider that this means they shouldn\’t judge the quality of life of disabled people whom they do not know. They shouldn\’t judge these people\’s families, either. I am glad my daughter exists and should I learn I am expecting another child with Down syndrome, I would welcome him or her. I refuse the pity of ignorant people, as does my daughter. Our lives are a celebration. Thank you.

By: Mary

Mary — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:05:45 +0000

I just wanted to add another bit to my comment in that I don’t want to give the impression I believe God condons evil and evil events by willing them, such as the holocaust in World War II or even the present holocaust of innocents we call abortion, but He never forces His Will…His Will being that we act with love and not selfishness, vengence , anger, greed, lust, avarice, vanity, pride ( recognize the list of seven deadly sins?) But when we choose to act according to those sins there are consequences and we live with those consequences in our world.
He does change events, though, when people pray and repent… and there are miriad glimpses of this throughout history as well where people were rescued and past through great trials and calamitites with prayer…

so God Wills good things
He allows us to choose a path
He wills certain events that are unchageable ( like the incarnation)
He allows certain events that could have been avoided if people had co-operated with grace instead…
He does bring good out of evil in the end, which is the greatest mystery…

Remember World War !! was prophesised in 1917 at a little town in Fatima Portugal….God said that if people prayed the rosary, lived good lives and consecrated Russia to Mary’s Immaculate Heart there would not be a great world war….well people didn’t respond to that call and so the choice was ours.
He allowed the consequence of our choice….

In the end we learn humilty from our falls and that is how good comes from them.

The Blessed Mother is still requesting the rosary to end war. How many are responding? Whatr can be the consequence of ignoring the call?

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:35:38 +0000

We never really know what challenge we will face in our life but choosing to face it and do what is right in terms of LOVE is what comprises the best in us and in human nature. What can seem like tragedy can actually be our greatest blessing.

I know I have heard that nothing happens in our lives that God did not allow to happen and that if we could see things from the other side of eternity we would never change anything in our life…. But what can allow us to really believe that as being true!

Anyone of us can come up with miriade of situation in human history that are completely horrific and we cannot imagine that God would allow them…. so FAITH, supernatural faith, not human faith, is the only answer. If we truly believe in God as being Good and merciful and trust in Him completely, then saying \” Be done it unto me accoprding to Your Word\” is the only answer.

The problem with our times is that true faith is seldom found. People have forgotten what true faith requires and what it means. There is a purpose for every life…either you believe that or not! God has a purpose for what we consider mentally retarded people. We are judging them and giving them a death sentance because we do not really have faith that every person has been chosen and loved, long before they were even conceived. What else can I say? I struggle with faith all the time…but I try to really keep faith! I believe faith and love are joined and dependent on eachother. Someone once said “Faith comes from knowledge of God”

“Hope comes from the memory of what God can do and has done” and “Love comes from our “will”. You are not going to love without the faith and the hope in God. Then “willing to love” despite the obstacles becomes the call because you trust that God has His purpose that is beyond your knowledge and perception. We can only take things one step at a time. You have to have a prayer life so that when “your hour” comes, you can say “yes” to God’s Will. We all have an “hour” too…some test, some trial, we have to face…

By: Luella Diaz

Luella Diaz — Wed, 02 May 2007 15:55:05 +0000

On Monday my grandson turned 6 and is so loved by all that are lucky enough to know him. Sure he was a surprise but not unwanted. My son was 25 and his wife was 19 so of course no amnio was done. Dominic was a few weeks old before they found out and at that time found out the Drs. suspected all along but he nursed without trouble and a flat head is a family trait as is almond shaped eyes. How did they feel? At first shocked, then as my son put it to us when he told us the news,(they lived in another state),\” Mom you always said I was a special gift from God and now he has proved it by giving us a son with DS\’. Never has he been treated like anything but what he is, their loving son. He gets no special treatment and is expected to be well mannered and is a real gentelman. While his chronological age is 6 his mental age is closer to 3 1/2, like his younger sister. He has an older and younger sister that adore him and his older sister (7) understands that he has DS but as she put it \” It means he processes a little slower than some.\” They were a little concerned about having another child after him but felt that God only gives us what we can handle. However while they and the rest of us would not change anything we do not presume to judge others. Judge not lest yea be judged and found wanting. Just as they have not walked in my shoes I cannot walk in their\’s. For us we are gratefull God granted us the greatest gift in Dominic we understand it might not be so for others. Plus Dominic has been given a good heart and no other health problems that can come with DS. What will come in the future we can only wait and see. God be with all of you that have the terrible decision to make and guide you to make the choice that is right for you.
Remember God only makes that which is good.

By: karinatwork

karinatwork — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 05:49:23 +0000

So, if I am 39, and I wish for sibling for my son, but I am absolutely terrified of the statistics that say that we are at a high risk to conceive a child with a disability, I should not even try to conceive? Is that wicked, too?

By: Last Lemming

Last Lemming — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:18:34 +0000

My wife had amnios during her last three pregnancies. She had no intention of ending any of them, but she wanted to know so she could be prepared. Nothing wrong with that.

By: Katy

Katy — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:51:34 +0000

Lei:
I’m 24 – 23 when I had my little boy (my first comment is above yours), and I find your comments helpful. I do have fear about now finding out with our next pregnancy – I know I could not end the pregnancy, yet while I love my little baby so much, it scares me to death to think of having another child with DS. My husband and I also found out a few hours after birth that DS was suspected. The current edition of Newsweek (Jan. 29, 2007) has a wonderfully written commentary on Down Syndrome and testing by George F. Will (on the last page). Thanks for your comments.

By: Lei

Lei — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:51:35 +0000

At the age of only 24, I gave birth six weeks early to a beautiful baby boy……. about 2 hours after he was born the doctors announced their concerns they thought he had Down Syndrome. My husband and I were both numb with disbelief, we were both healthy, young and I had enjoyed a dreamfully easy pregnancy.

Now here we are, Isaiah just turned 8 yrs old, he attends a regular school with his ‘normal’ older brother and ‘normal’ younger sister in his own special needs class. He is a wonderful blessing to our family and extended family, and though those early days after his birth were daunting filled with challenges, and heartache he has changed our lives for the better….

Isaiah was my second child, when I was pregnant with baby #4, we were encouraged to have the usual tests. I was given the news that My chances were 1 in 24 of another child with Down’s. I was scared, I loved Isaiah but wondered if another child with additional needs was going to push my capabilities as a mother to the limit. After prayer filled moments, my husband and I opted NOT to go through with the Amnio….. and just wait and see. I gave birth to a perfectly healthy boy……… could I ever forgive myself if I had risked the life, or taken the life of our son simply because I thought he would be too much hard work????

Thanks for the discussion – just found the site

By: Adam Greenwood

Adam Greenwood — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 05:43:04 +0000

My thanks to Tammy and Katy.