A Scary Trend In Down Syndrome Diagnosis
Posted: Friday, September 18, 2009
by Laura Trahan
Technology keeps advancing and advancing. The amount of tests that a pregnant woman goes through is never ending.
One such test is a test that determines if your child has the chromosome that could cause them to be born with Down Syndrome. Let me explain that I have had several friends over the years that the doctors informed them that their children would be born with Downs.
Today, I find myself deeply saddened by the results of this technology. Originally, when these tests were first brought out for pregnant women, it was as a precaution so that every resource could be prepared to offer the best benefits to the baby.
For example, one of my good friends in college had a brother with Downs. His mom became pregnant later in life which increases the risk of having a child born with Downs. She found out before that her baby had the possibility of Downs.
What did this mean? They had the best surgeons awaiting the birth. The baby was taken immediately, given surgery to reduce the size of its tongue, given the best care possible. Today, it is hard to even know he has Downs. That is the purpose of technology and the test. He has been able to live a life to the fullest capacity just like every other baby born into this world.
Instead, The Washington Post reports that 92 percent of women who learn they are carrying babies with Down Syndrome choose to abort the baby. That is more than nine out of ten women!
Why is this scary? That is with the current test for Downs that is very invasive leaving many women not to test. Science Daily is reporting that the number of diagnosis will increase with a simple blood test.
According to AlberMohler.com, the new research is based on work by Dr. Brian Skotko, a clinical genetics fellow at Children's Hospital Boston. Skotko, who has a sister with Down syndrome, asks this haunting question: "As new tests become available, will babies with Down syndrome slowly disappear?"
When I first saw this, I was in shock. I have known so many kids with Downs and their lives have had such an impact on so many. My junior high and high school coach's son had Downs. I still remember playing endlessly with him on bus trips and at games. His smile was amazing! He broke down people's fears in our small town and became greatly loved by everyone.
I can't imagine a world without Down Syndrome babies. Can you? Would you want to?
Resources
http://www.albertmohler.com/2009/09/18/will-babies-with-down-syndrome-just-disappear/
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2009/09/will_down_syndrome_disappear.html?wprss=checkup
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)hi laura,hi laura,there is a lot of laziness in this world, and a down syndrome baby takes a lot of care and time-i think that might be a big reason why one would not want to have a down syndrome baby.then, of course, there's vanity, and how a down syndrome baby would affect the lives of the family, and embarassment.i personally would cherish every second of that special babies life.it's a very difficult lifestyle though. a lot of medical complications.i admire all that are in that position,my best to you,sue
Hi Laura.There are a lot of people who have a hard enough time taking care of themselves let alone a baby/child with that level of special needs. For some people like me (I've never been pregnant and so never had to make that decision), it would be well nigh impossible. I can understand the decision to terminate. I would only hope that it was not made out of misplaced vanity.On the other hand, all of the Down's people I have known have been the happiest, most loving people I have ever met. Unfortunately for most of them, they were in an institution where I volunteered one summer when I was much younger. All they wanted was human contact, to be held and hugged and loved and they received so little of that.The sad fact is that many of these people end up in such institutions because the people who have them eventually find that they are unable to care for them. I don't know what the answer is. I wish I did. For now we will all just have to muddle along with this the best that we can.Dianne
Bravo Laura - also a little known fact is that 2% of Down Syndrome babies have NORMAL IQs. Some of life's greatest lessons of love and unconditional forgiveness have been taught to me (pediatric RN for years) by children with Down Syndrome - one with a normal IQ was seen by my boss for years too. AND, you are right, God can also intervene and do that which is medically impossible - I have seen it various times. Marijo
Great article, Laura.I have to say, though, that a lot depends on the severity of the syndrome and the resources available to the parent, (usually the mom!).So many mothers are just tired, you can see it on their faces, but what can we do?
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