Around the world today people who love a child with Down syndrome are celebrating the beauty found within an extra chromosome.
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50 years ago most parents of a child with Down syndrome were told to hand their newborn off to an institution, because these children weren’t able to learn and would be nothing but a hardship on the family.
The last 50 years have seen vast changes. Parents of children with Down syndrome now understand that when given their rights and equal opportunities, children with Down syndrome have potential undreamed of in the past.
Today children with Down syndrome live with their families, are successfully integrated into regular classrooms and go on to graduate from high school with vocational diplomas. Many go into post secondary education and hold jobs and live independently from their families.
But there are still the naysayers. Consider the words of Libertarian commentator Nicholas Provenzo:
“Like many, I am troubled by the implications of Sarah Palin’s decision to knowingly give birth to a child disabled with Down syndrome. Given that Palin’s decision is being celebrated in some quarters, it is crucial to reaffirm the morality of aborting a fetus diagnosed with Down syndrome.”
This is necessary, Provenzo informs us, “because a person afflicted with Down syndrome is only capable of being marginally productive.”
Comments like this make me wonder if people don’t see Down syndrome as a bit of a modern day death sentence. With the ease of earlier and earlier diagnostic testing, a baby’s life can be snuffed out before it was even announced.
Yet each time my heart is broken by the ignorance of the Provenzos in this world, I find my resolve strengthened when I read of families like Frank and Renee Garcia.
Blessed with 4 biological children, one with Down syndrome, Renee and her husband are working through Reece’s Rainbow to bring home another child, Kellsey, who is in an orphanage in the Ukraine.
The Garcias see the beauty, the potential, the gift, that lies within that extra chromosome.
It is my hope that the light that resides in the hearts of parents such as the Kennedy’s will out shine the darkness found in the words of those whose minds are set on the quest for a disability-free society.
If you would like to help Renee bring Kellsey home:
What better way to celebrate the joy of our children than bringing another child home to her forever family?
Add your blog url in the Mr. Linky below. Then be sure and visit the other blogs listed to meet new friends who also love someone with Down syndrome.
Oh! And don’t forget to enter our giveaway from Hazelnut Toys!
You can also find Tammy and Parker hanging out at their other blog: Praying for Parker and on Twitter where they are known as ParkerMama.
I think that there are “many” more who are concerned about Provenzo’s statement.
I think all persons are to be celebrated and loved.
I have 3 year old identical twins boys both with Down Syndrome, so I have so much to be celebrating today!!
I am trying to put my Blogspot on this but I am not doing it right. It not working, Carol murphy
What a wonderful post, and what a true blessing is to be a part of a Ds childs life.
Happy World Down Syndrome Day! I loved the post.
[...] a great article on World Down Syndrome Day over on 5 Minutes For Special Needs, as well as a Mr Linky for anyone that’s written about it. Share and [...]
Nice article.
Many of us feel the same way about Provenzo’s statement.
I’m also feeling pretty angry about Obama’s comment to Leno.
Society has a long way to go before it gets there.
I have 2 sons, my youngsest has Down Syndrome.
Happy WDSD to you and Parker!
The Provenzos of the world are very frightening people, but I feel strongly that those of us who know better and do better will prevail…as will the children.
Happy Day!
Thanks for your post, Tammy. It is frightening to read the opinions of people like Provenzo and Singer — especially when they write that theirs is the “moral” choice. Hopefully, those who understand the meaning of “morals” will always be in the majority. A person who bases the value of a human life on material “productivity” must lead a very small life indeed.
Comments like Provenzos make my blood run cold…but we must not grow weary in doing good!
Tammy, I have followed your posts for a while now and always love to read them. Thank you. Our Sam is our angel sent from God and Down Syndrome is not a death sentence. He has opened our eyes to so much more in this world-mostly good but some bad, and we vow to fight for not just our Sam but for all of our children. For choices and chances that our kids-everyone’s kids- deserve.
Happy belated 3-21 to you and Mr. Parker! Hope you had a GREAT day!
Happy [Belated] World Down Syndrome Day!