Parents inspired by son with Down syndrome
January 21st, 2008
From the Long Beach [CA] Press-Telegram:
Columnist Tom Hennessy profiles Jim and Miriam Kang, who received a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Abortion was not an option for them, and they felt profoundly depressed and worried. Would neighbors and friends reject their child? Would anyone ever invite him to a birthday party?
Now, the Kangs say happily that their son Nicholas has been welcomed by their community, and that his progress is challenging many preconceptions about people with Down syndrome. Now almost four, Nicholas can count to 20, spell his first and last name, knows his shapes and colors, and can read over 30 words.
Nicholas is deluged with birthday-party invitations. He attends Emerson Parkside Academy and has been befriended by children who do not have Down syndrome.
“This past year,” says Miriam, “one of his ‘typical’ friends from school invited him to her birthday party. I cried tears of joy because he was invited to a party from school. My biggest fear was now no longer.”
… Says Miriam: “I have made it my life mission to help others as a parent mentor and to help educate as many people as possible and try to dispel all the inaccuracies out there. It will take many years to do that, but every single person who embraces these beautiful children is one less person in this world who will discriminate against them and others with disabilities.”
… For all the advances in treating Down syndrome, however, Jim is horrified by doctors who continue to suggest abortion as a remedy for dealing with it. He thinks much of that traces to the last century when even medical people had medieval views of the ailment. Now 42, Jim says, “As a boy, I remember myself thinking of such people as not being able to do anything when they got older.”
… Asked if there are limits to the hopes Miriam and Jim have for Nicholas’ future, Miriam replies, “We try not to think of the limits and to live our lives as though we would with any other child. We do believe he will attend college and live independently.
“Adults with Down syndrome now have so many more opportunities than 20 years ago. They hold down jobs, attend college, and some go on to marry. If they are living these wonderful, fulfilling lives now, we as parents can only imagine what opportunities our children will have in the next 20 years.”
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on Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 5:29 am and is filed under Down syndrome, NOT2BEMISSED, abortion, early intervention, prenatal diagnosis, public attitudes.
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February 6th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Hello Lisa –
Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! My son, Danny, who has Down syndrome, is 9 1/2 yrs old now, and is the life of the party at our house. (My husband and I have 6 other kids.)
A couple of friends and I started a listserv where parents of kids with DS can talk about anything that relates to their children. We talk about research, vitamins, therapies, etc, etc.
You are very welcome to join. the address is: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/DownSyndromeInfoExchange
P.S. The picture of the little boy in the Human Torch costume on the home page of the website is my son, Danny.
Hope to see you there!
KathyR
January 25th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
I’m responding to Lisa, the mom to the new little one with Down syndrome. Congratulations. I have a 2-year-old daughter with Down Syndrome. If you want to get in touch for some info and moral support, contact Patricia Bauer and let her know. She’ll give you my email address. (patricia@patriciaebauer.com)
January 25th, 2008 at 4:30 am
How inspiring! I have a little girl with Downs Syndrome and she’s 10 weeks old. I found out after having the amnio test done, and I was shocked and felt frozen. I couldn’t comprehend, it seemed like this huge nightmare. Our local doctor even tried to convince us that termination was the best answer (at 21 weeks? what the… ?) I just couldn’t do it. We both thought really hard about what was best for us, but it really came down to what I wanted, and I just couldn’t go through with it.
I had the same fears. What would everyone think? Would she be rejected? Would she have friends and be able to go to any birthday parties? Once she arrived, my fear all disappeared. Here she was my beautiful little girl. It was just so overwhelming. I thought I knew love, but she has rocked our little world. Now I truly believe why people say how blessed we truly are, how lucky we are. Since then we have had so much love and support from so many of our friends and family, they can’t wait to see and hold her. She’s been fantastic with all my friends, its like she belongs to all of us….
I would really appreciate any kind of support or advice in regards to vitamins, educational toys, physio therapies etc. anything that you may feel is helpful, as I have to wait a little while before I get her therapy program started. I’m sure I could be doing something now — everyone keeps telling me to love and enjoy her… believe me, if she could talk she’d say “oh would you just leave me alone, enough of the love and fuss please…” lol
Thanks for allowing me to send a msg, always looking for friends that I can talk to.
Regards
Lisa