There are two magazines my local Babies R Us carries and gives out free, American Baby and Baby Talk. I was in there the other day and picked both of them up. I finally had a chance to read Baby Talk last night.
There was an interesting article in the October 2008 issue about a family struggling with a Down Syndrome baby. They did not know prenatally that their little girl was Down, but found out after her birth. The family talked about how bittersweet it was: the joy of having a baby girl, so sweet and precious, mixed with the grief they feel over her difficulties. As a mom of a special needs baby, I could totally related and appreciate all they were going through. I really appreciated the magazine for shedding some light on this "less than ideal" situation.
The family named their daughter after the husband's grandmother who had "escaped and fought the Nazi's during the Holocaust" (pg. 50). Oh how sweet, you say! Get this, in the next paragraph the father says to the doctors, "If we had known, we would have terminated." (pg. 50)
Ummm, is it just me, or does something not seem right here? They would have terminated their baby based on the fact the she has Down Syndrome, yet applaud his grandmother for surviving the Nazis, who wanted to "terminate" her for her "unacceptable-ness"??!! I was just speechless and needed to read it again to make sure it said what I thought it did.
When we found out that Rachel would actually live, we asked Dr. Giles if we would not be encouraged to terminate. He said that we still had that choice and there were parents that would. We found that to be LUDICROUS!! The thought never even took enough root to be plausible.
I will be honest, it is difficult living with a child with "special needs" (and Rachel's needs aren't even that demanding right now), but the joy that I get seeing Rachel happy and smiling, the absolute joy that she brings to our life... nothing can terminate that.
Looking toward resurrection
7 years ago
Posts
5 comments:
It is one thing for a parent to question a decision while still pregnant, but how can someone look at their child and say that had they known they would have terminated? It is beyond me and proof that God is being left behind. I am sure there are days when you will question why God has put you on this journey, but I know you will never question why he has blessed you with this sweet smiling girl. How sad that not all children are truly loved and seen as a blessing.
melanie, like i have told you it takes special people to love children no mater what. and i am sorry they are not that special. i feel very sorry for their child. and i hope they do what is right for her and take care of the child the correct way. all we can do is pray that GOD will take care of this child the way you or i would or any of the other mothers in our mops group. it is very sad to think that thier are parents out there that think the way they do. thank GOD for the special parents wholove their children no matter what.
Oh Melanie! How ironic that you would talk about JOY. I have been meaning to write to you ever since we talked at MOPS last week! I want you to know when I pray for you and your family, or when God "pops you into my mind", I immediately think of the word JOY. A quote from Luci Swindoll: "Happiness and joy are two different things. Happiness has to do with a circumstance; joy has to do with an assurance." You are the epitome of the word JOY. Whether I see you and you are smiling, laughing, telling stories, crying or writing your blog about your frustrations, lack of sleep :), craziness at your house.... I always feel , see and hear your JOY in every situation. You are the perfect example that sometimes things in life aren't the best or the easiest going, but with your hope and faith in God alone, there IS ALWAYS JOY. I thank you for your example of faith and JOY. You are a special woman and I believe God is pouring His blessings on you and your family!!
It is outrageous.
It's heartless too. I could never look at one of my children and wish that I had terminated them.
We are watching and waiting (which is really hard...I don't like waiting, I like answers!) on diagnoses on 2 of the triplets and NEVER would I have terminated them even if/when they are diagnosed as special needs. :( It's just so so so sad.
I just read a novel called "The Memory Keepers Daughter" which is a book about a man (a doctor) who deliveres his wife. It was twins, and one was born with down's syndrome. While the wife was unconscious (1964) the husband gave the baby to a nurse and told her to take the baby to an institution. The nurse ended up running away with the baby and raising her on her own, and the wife was told that her daughter died in childbirth.
It's just an amazing book to see how much these lives really matter. It was a really good read.
sorry, I just read the book and it reminded me of this post. :D
Post a Comment