Down Syndrome Holocaust
Within the next few days my wife will be giving birth to our fifth child. My wife and I aren’t exactly spring chickens. At our age there is better than a 1/200 chance that our child will have Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, results when a baby has three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome.
Today I mentioned to my wife that when I was a younger it was common to see people with the distinctive physical features that accompany the syndrome. However, I can’t remember the last time I saw someone with it. She looked at me as if I had just arrived from another planet. Was I not aware that nearly 90% of all Down Syndrome babies are aborted by parents who do not want them?
Surely that could not be the truth. However, a quick Google search confirmed her statistics to be accurate. During my search I came across a statement from Andy Crouch which was almost identical to the one I had made earlier in the day, “When I was a teenager in the 1980s, I remember seeing many people my age and younger who had the distinctive facial and behavioral characteristics of Down children. These days I rarely see a Down Syndrome child at all.”
I am so incredibly saddened by this. We hope and pray that our baby will be perfectly healthy. But, I can’t imagine not loving him regardless.
Kevin,
i am sure the 5th baby will be great. Just the other day I was getting a haircut and a lady had three children with her and one had Down’s. As I sat there and looked at him, I said to myself what a great kid and he must be loved. He got up and starting running around until mom sat him down. He had a toy and just played with it. Over the years I have seen some who had Down’s and lived into adulthood and still their parents showed them loved. They are a gift from God.
Kevin, I understand the concerns you and your wife have. My doctor told me it wouldn’t be a good thing for me to have any more children after I was 30 because of my health problems. I had 3 healthy girls already. My husband and I wanted to have more children and kept trying even after I was 30. We had more or less given up when I became pregnant at 39. Being a science teacher and having taught about trisomy 21, I knew some of the risks. We were concerned, but like you, knew that we would love our baby no matter what. Also, I knew that children with Down’s Syndrome were usually very loving and delightful. I have always carried my children past the overdue date – my first was 3 weeks overdue. With our 4th we went 4 weeks over and I was very concerned about that, probably even more than the risks of Down’s, but my doctor wouldn’t induce labor. Lot’s of prayer help to calm my agitation and to bring peace.
Long story, I know. Our 4th little girl was born healthy and happy and has been one of the great delights of our life. I hope all goes well with you and for your wife. I hope you will rely on the Lord for his comfort and peace.
Hi Mike and booklogged, thank you for your kind words.
Why Kevin, don’t you know the old saying about not judging someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes?
I can’t wait to hear the tales of the 5th child. I’m hoping he’s just as entertaining as your first born is.
The number 5 must mean something special …
… if nothing else, it must mean something special to YOU.
Your very 5th child!
Congratulations!
Vincent
PS: I thought about it, and I looked at my hands and feet.
5 fingers on each hand and 5 toes on each feet. Guess you can look at his little hands and feet and say, “Those are the little fingers and little toes of my very 5th child.”
Never mind.
Singaporeans ARE weird.
Correction – each foot. There you go.
Thanks for the powerful post. I’m just sorry it took so long for me to get to it.
The statistics are so sad. I can not imagine that many people scared of Down syndrome! We in the Down syndrome community have an awesome responsibility to educate those less fortunate who do not know about the blessings of a person with Down syndrome.
Thanks for the article.
They are not a “gift” from god, they are an extreme burden. Down syndrome is definitely one of the worse ways of being mentally retarded. At least autistic children, while having some difficulty, offer great rewards, they actually have a chance at succeeding in life, with strong, loving parents providing support along the way. A child with Down syndrome won’t get any better, has basically a total lack of social skills, will never attract a mate, will never give you grand babies, and probably will ruin your life and alienate your friends.
I remember the Down syndrome kids at school, we called them “Downies.” If my wife and I were to be informed that the baby she is carrying would have Down syndrome, we both have agreed its in our best interest to just abort and try again. We don’t to bring such a burden into the world. We saw those Downies at school, and how they rarely made any sense, had to be babysitted nearly 24/7, and i remember two or three of them being in their 20’s, yet still in high school. What a failure to society, and a waste of taxpayer’s money.
David,
It is really sad and horrible that you would KILL a precious child just because they don’t meet up to your standards of “perfection.” You really don’t know anything about Down Syndrome. Our daughter is 3 years old and has Down Syndrome. She is one of the most fun and social people I know and everyone who gets to know her adores her. She is already becoming quite bilingual (English and American Sign Language). Can you say that? She is able to do all kinds of things “normal” kids can do. She has 4 older siblings who think she’s just great, and having her in their lives has taught them to be more caring and compassionate people. Maybe if you took the time to get to know someone with Down’s or another “disability” you might learn a little compassion yourself. Another thing that you may not realize, is that even 20 years ago, Down Syndrome was looked at as a hopeless diagnosis and the children were not given opportunities to develop to their full potential. Now, people are beginning to realize that people with Down’s can achieve all kinds of things, and they are able to get the opportunities to help them reach their potential. I have no doubt that God has great things in mind for my little girl, and I can tell you unequivocally that she is a wonderful blessing in our lives and I wouldn’t trade her for the world!
Wendy,
While I am sure you do and always will love your little girl, you said it your self she is three right now. you can still pick her up, send her to her room, and generally help and (when needed) control her.
Someday this will not be true and everyday will be just a little harder, as you watch her never understand kids her own age, While she can’t go out and date, or just go catch a movie by her self.
she will never grow up and become an adult, Some people may even try and take advantage of her.
She will look like an adult woman physically and that can be dangerous.
She will always need someone there to help her. Sooner or later you and your husband will pass away, and she may live for Many more years. Are her siblings going to have to completely change their live to take care of her? What if God forbid you pass away before they are old enough to legal take her? will she go to foster care?
I am not saying that it is right or wrong to Bring a person with downs syndrome into this world, I am just saying it is a lot of hard choices to make one way or another. And perhaps no one should be righteous about what they do or do not do