I was reading a conversation today on Facebook talking about how the abortion rate is astronomically high for those finding out while pregnant that they are carrying a child with Down Syndrome. The rate now is about 90% of pregnancies are terminated when they find out that are carrying a child with Trisomy 21. I'm not going to get into a big debate on abortion here so just keep reading.
One point I want to make is that the initial diagnosis via bloodwork or ultrasounds is not enough in my opinion to determine if the child has DS or not. Let me explain. I was carrying TWO children with Down Syndrome TWO!!! Blood work came back normally and I had several ultrasounds done, including three or four Level II's. Especially during the Level II ultrasound the perinatiologist spent 15 to 20 minutes trying to measure Baby B's pinky and to make sure it was not crooked. He verbally said out-loud, NOPE no markers for Down Syndrome in these children. Not that it mattered to me either way, but it was said and I was given a false outcome. So if TWO children can come back showing all signs normal How many false reports say that the child your carrying does have Down Syndrome, and they DON'T?? My advice to anyone given the "this child might have Down Syndrome" report, should consider an amnio before terminating the pregnancy, if that's what they choose to do.
Second point I want to make is that people ALWAYS tell me that God chose Tom and I because we're such good parents and we're strong enough to handle something like this. Although I don't mind the encouraging words state that we're good parents. I DO NOT FEEL ANY STRONGER THAN ANY OF YOU!!! This was the interesting comment I found on facebook today:
"God doesn't give children with special needs to strong people; He gives children with special needs to ordinary, weak people and then gives them strength.
Raising a child with Down syndrome doesn't TAKE a special kind of family, it MAKES a special kind of family!
AMEN!!!!!
2 comments:
:-) Now I feel all famous and stuff!
Those who know me think my neurotic, chaotic, completely inept persona is all an act...but it isn't. I am a total and complete basket case--and I'm also the perfect mommy for Mason: not because of what I bring to the table, but because of what I'm willing to take from the experience of being his mother.
Thank you Ashley for the great thought for today's blog :)
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