I wonder how those prenatal decisions would be affected if they heard the second message of the article — the one where Ms. Thomas speaks of her brother “bring[ing] great joy to my life;” of the community groups devoted to helping individuals with Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s; and of the Alzheimer’s researchers working for a treatment that may be found due to the link it has with the 21st Chromosome, of which the third copy is the genetic cause for Down syndrome.

Just as life expectancy has doubled in the past 25 years for people with Down syndrome, parents should appreciate that in the next 25 years there will likely be more treatments. It was reported earlier this year that a possible cancer treatment was derived from studying Down syndrome due to tumor growth being suppressed when the 21st Chromosome is overexpressed. Another study found a lower incidence of breast cancer in women with Down syndrome.

So, treatments may be achieved because of Down syndrome. Parents, and society in general, should appreciate this. Otherwise, at the current termination rate, while there may be treatments in 25 years, there will also be fewer individuals with Down syndrome, like my daughter Juliet, who turns 4 next month.