‘Would you abort a baby with Down syndrome?’
October 28th, 2009Interviews with two women in the [UK] Daily Mail:
![Julia Langdon, photo from [UK] Daily Mail](http://www.patriciaebauer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/2009.10.28_julia-langdon2.jpg "Julia Langdon, photo from [UK] Daily Mail")
Political journalist Julia Langdon, 63, opted for an abortion after receiving a prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome 25 years ago. She says the decision left her “sorrowful,” but was “the right thing to do.” An excerpt:
For me, the decision – and it was mine and mine alone – was not about the rights and wrongs of abortion. It wasn’t about whether the child would have been loved, as she would have been.
… nor was it about whether I could cope, because somehow or other I would have managed.
It was only about not wishing to bring a disabled child into the world, a child whose life would be more difficult. I was given the choice. I made it. I do not regret it.
![Shelley and Sam Thoupos, photo from [UK] Daily Mail](http://www.patriciaebauer.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/shelley-and-sam1.jpg "Shelley and Sam Thoupos, photo from [UK] Daily Mail")
Shelley Thoupos, 29, and her husband received a prenatal diagnosis, considered abortion and decided against it. Their son Sam, 4, has Down syndrome. An excerpt:
We didn’t know then what we know now — that Down’s syndrome children can go on to lead happy, fulfilling, successful lives. They can live independently and, above all, be a treasured part of a family, not a burden.
… OK, I’ve had to adjust the aspirations I might have had for him, but what I hope for him now is every bit as valid. He’s as wonderful a son as any mother could wish for.
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November 8th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I am in a disabilities literature class in college and have recently read the book “Past Due” by Anne Finger. In the book Anne has a disability and has to decide if she can handle taking care of a child. She decides to terminate her first pregnancy.
Years later when pregnant for the second time, she decides to go through with having the baby. During her pregnancy she does everything possible to make sure her baby does not become disabled like she is. During the birth Anne has complications because the baby has Meconium aspiration syndrome, it is thought that her baby could have possible brain damage.
I think that this just shows one can do everything possible to make sure that they will have a healthy child but in some cases one never knows what will happen. On the other hand it can go the other way as well, there is a five percent false positive rate for downs syndrome.
I believe that it is the woman’s choice to decide if abortion is the right thing for them. But, to also know that disability can happen to anyone at any time and just because they possibly avoided it once does not mean that next time it wont go undetected and the same thing could happen.
October 30th, 2009 at 12:06 am
I have a 6 year old with Down Syndrome and found out at 18 weeks pregnant. Do I wish she didn’t have some of the struggles that children with Down Syndrome have? Sure I do but it is who she is and she has affected my entire extended family and community for the better. I never wish she didn’t have Down Syndrome. She is the first child with any disability to attend our local Catholic school and she is thriving. I have the same goals and dreams for her that I have for her older and younger sisters. I am so thankful I knew ahead of time so we could prepare our community, but I think physicians and genetic counselors do a really lousy job presenting all of your options so more people don’t terminate pregnancies. Down Syndrome is not a death sentence. My daughter has made my life better and she has taught me so much about priorities and how to live. There are so many people I would have never met if we had never had her; some are my very best friends. I wish genetic counselors would tell you there is a waiting list to adopt children with Down Syndrome. She is the best thing that ever happened to me.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
It’s always ironic to me to read posts or articles written by people who say they have either already, or would willingly terminate a pregnancy if they were told their baby would have Down syndrome, on the basis that the child’s “life would be difficult,” or “it is wrong to bring a child into the world who would suffer.” What planet do they live on exactly? Everyone suffers in some way and everyone experiences difficulty during their lifetime, at least on planet Earth. The better thing to do is to educate those around you that your child does not “suffer,” is not “afflicted,” but just wants to live their life, experiencing challenges and successes like the rest of us. Babies are born every day who face illness, suffering and ultimately death, sometimes with much joy throughout life and sometimes not. No one can know when a child is conceived how their life will turn out; and to terminate on an assumption is so very sad.
October 28th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Forget 25 years ago. Look at the here and now. Still, we come back to societal acceptance and the lack of leadership specifically in the media to give dignity and respect to individuals with Down syndrome or other developmental disabilities.
I continue to read stories in mainstream media that say those afflicted with Down’s Syndrome. No typo on my part but they didn’t even hit spell check apparently. What message does that send?
The writer says she didn’t want to bring a child into this world who would have a more difficult life. That is probably one reason people would give in 2009 as well. But, who defines difficult? My brother died in a car wreck at the age of 22. Talk about difficult but if my mom had it to do again, she would have him because the 22 years was worth it.
I won’t pretend to know what each woman should do in any given circumstance. I had a prenatal diagnosis. I had a choice. I chose to have my daughter. Difficult? Difficult would be looking in the mirror every day and saying “what if”.