Friday, January 14, 2011

Conflicted.

This morning I came across an article ...

A Promising New Way to Screen for Down Syndrome

Just reading the headline makes me want to hurl, to be honest. And it makes me feel conflicted. Five years ago, I likely would have read this article with curiosity ... I mean, I did not want my unborn child to have Down syndrome.

The thought of it scared me. But I didn't know what I didn't know.

IMG_1896wm

I get frustrated because I love my girls with every ounce of my soul. How could I think something like this is promising or exciting? Is it not essentially an effort to rid this earth of individuals with Down syndrome?

It brings me to tears.

And then there is a part of me that feels like I need to get it. It was the exact shoes I stood in 5 years ago. Now having two children with Down syndrome, I sort of find myself standing in those shoes once again ... you know, if we ever were to have children again. But it isn't because I wouldn't want another Payton or another Nika ... it is because I have my hands full with special needs and I really do not need any more.

So yeah ... as it sit here and type this rambled mess of thoughts ... I think it is different. And the headline still makes me want to hurl.

Rather than backspace a million times and try to explain my thoughts exactly, just watch this ...



Click here to be inspired. And click here to donate.

15 comments:

  1. Just remember...every child we have or hope to have will come with their own unique set of special needs...or could have something happen to them at any time... so having a child is a risk... period. We have to be prepared for whatever may or may not happen to any of our children at any time (at conception, birth, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, etc) and that is just the journey of parenthood....and yes...things like that article do scare me but then again a lot of things happening in the world are scary. But thank GOD for things like the ONEder Fund and blogs like Kelle Hampton which open eyes and doors for a world that is more open, kind, forgiving and loving :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Last night we were getting ready to watch the news when this came up as one of the headline stories. I left the room. Without even hearing the story I was instantly angered (I'm not saying that's "right" of me, it's just how I reacted.) I couldn't stand listening to the statistics behind the test because I know where they're going. Nope, had to leave the room.

    ReplyDelete
  3. hate that headline too, makes me want to break something!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I hear you, and hopefully more people will hear you....and maybe more discussion will come of that idiotic title with all the blogposts explaining our point of view.

    I'm hopeful.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The worst part is this was written by an OBGYN. Barf.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I don't even want to read that article about new testing. Not going to do it! I wish the world was different than it is and everyone would do the same.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Saddened and sickened.Totally.

    As I wrote earlier today to Samantha's mom Rebecca,I go everyday to pick up Zoey and see her with all her little chromosomally enhanced buddies and wonder what things will be like in a few years.will a class likethis exist and even if it does,how many of them will have DS.I venture to say,not as many as today.And we we live in a small community but honestly,as small as we are we have a large contingent of T21 darlings,ranging from late thirties to Zoey.And that is where it stops.Dead in its tracks.I am involved in our community,as are many of my friends and there has not been a birth,locally,since Zoey.I went to my annual check up and asked my OG/gyn if he had 10 women in his office,all pregnant with a Down syndrome baby,how many would deliver.2.2 was his reply.Disgusting.Heartbreaking.Utterly heart breaking.


    In other news:Happy belated to your very handsome boy!

    ReplyDelete
  8. the article does make me want to hurl. gross.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have to say that seeing your girls grow up and the slight risk to the baby made it an easy decision to not have the testing done when I was pregnant. Your girls are so awsome that it made the possibility of having a child with Down Syndrome a lot less scary. Now, the only scary part was wondering if I could be half the Mom you are with everything that you do for Payton and Addison:)

    ReplyDelete
  10. You're little girls are beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  11. You'd think that the special education teachers would speak up more. The classes are dwindling and that could mean an even higher unemployment rate for all kinds of special education providers and disability services. Unfortunately, those are mostly tax revenue funded and typically supported by the pro-abortion community. Except for one very important thing. They are only creating their own demise. Everything comes full circle. Everything. Support those yet to be born, and their right to liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness. Here is my tribute music video to kids born with Down syndrome who are going to change the world.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcrrgEi4SII

    ReplyDelete
  12. I don't think that article talks about terminating babies. It talks about finding out and many parents want to know so they can get ready. Not necessarily the new tests are in the works so the parents can terminate earlier (if, that is) When i was pg after 7 years of infertility, I wanted to know as well so we can prepare ourselves if the baby is not healthy. I cant imagine having a newborn and find out at that time. I would definitely want to know. It doesnt mean i wouldnt keep her neither.
    On other hand I understand parents that would terminate the pregnancy. It breaks my heart but I understand the reasons without judging them. For example us, we have absolutely no family support, some other people may struggle finnancially or in other departments, or just cant handle it. I know someone who lost her child to leukemia at 3 yrs, and she often talks about if her next one is determined to have something like down syndrome or leukemia she will terminate as she cannot go through the heartbreak again (and I agree, down is not a death sentence but i know someone whos baby died due to heart complications that came with it) And again, while it would break my heart, I still understand her reason, too, she has every right to do that and I know because i witnessed the first hand how she got attached to her baby as a mother just to lose her. Anyways I am really glad that the medicine and testing is improving, and keeps going forward. Your girls are precious !

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey Bethany! I came across your blog when searching google as part of my nursing studies. I have spent several hours here and really enjoyed reading about your perspectives and choices. I love your witty writing style and your AWESOME photography.
    xo
    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you Michelle, that was so sweet! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. When my husband and I were pregnant we felt strongly about being exempt from the level 2 ultrasound, so we never had it. I saw no point in it really. "But what if your child has down syndrome? Wouldn't you want to know? That's a big thing and I think that you should know so that you can prepare for it." Humm, If my child had down syndrome then I would keep him or her. No questions asked. Plus, I wanted to have my pregnancy worry free from what if's with my childs health before he's born. Well, I was surprised by his sex...and another little thing. Royce WAS born with down syndrome! And it is rare. And I LOVE him. And I loved my pregnancy. I never had about 5 months of worry over statistics of heart problems, cancer, and everything thats out there to scare parents while pregnant. I am so happy with my decision to be exempt from the level 2 ultrasound and I am so happy with my son with down syndrome.

    ReplyDelete