ambersand

This was supposed to be Re the person who noted that they would opt for abortion if they found the child was Downs...

Why? And no, this is not an abortion question; it's a question about Down Syndrome. What is so bad about people with Downs? I used to work with several children and young people in aquatic therapy and they were all wonderful. The functioned quite well and were very sociable. Why would this condition be the reason for abortion? Am I missing something? They are not horribly disfigured; they won't suffer and die in agony; and although they may not aspire to be brain surgeons, a lot do have jobs and do care for their personal needs. Don't they?

Help me out of my cave folks.

Kandi

Nancy from MI

Kandi: I agree with you. I would never abort a Downs Syndrome baby.
They can lead good lives, just not what we consider "normal." The only
thing that would concern me, maybe, is that who would care for them
after I pass away? I would love and accept a Downs baby, just like my
other children, but I know I would be concerned about what would
happen to him/her after I'm gone.

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., "ambersand" <ambersand@m...> wrote:
> This was supposed to be Re the person who noted that they would opt
for abortion if they found the child was Downs...
>
> Why? And no, this is not an abortion question; it's a question
about Down Syndrome. What is so bad about people with Downs? I used
to work with several children and young people in aquatic therapy and
they were all wonderful. The functioned quite well and were very
sociable. Why would this condition be the reason for abortion? Am I
missing something? They are not horribly disfigured; they won't
suffer and die in agony; and although they may not aspire to be brain
surgeons, a lot do have jobs and do care for their personal needs.
Don't they?
>
> Help me out of my cave folks.
>
> Kandi

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/18/01 7:15:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
hammondcentral@... writes:


about people with Downs


wannabe lurker jumppin in here
from the lil ive seen, my 2cents? downs kids arent deficient, they have gifts
we dont...maybe were deficient? lol
life is full of what ifs?....

Nancy from MI

I've always thought we could ALL learn a few things from these
beautiful children!

--- In Unschooling-dotcom@y..., Antfamily@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 4/18/01 7:15:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> hammondcentral@e... writes:
>
>
> >
>
> wannabe lurker jumppin in here
> from the lil ive seen, my 2cents? downs kids arent deficient, they
have gifts
> we dont...maybe were deficient? lol
> life is full of what ifs?....

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/18/01 7:34:32 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
hammondcentral@... writes:


I've always thought we could ALL learn a few things from these
beautiful children!


i had a dream last week we had a downs baby, it was a good thing
10 yrs ago i woulda been devastated
maybe ive matured lol

Sue

I have known a few Down's Syndrome people and they have an inner beauty, they are generally loving beautiful people.   Strange the one I was really worried about being DS [probably because we planned a late in life baby and to my way of thinking it would have been "my fault"if she had problems] has some of the magical qualities of DS people, she is very loving and generally sees the good in people above any faults they have.  
 
A friend of mine adopted  DS baby who's parents were from India, Dad a MD and Mom some kind of scientist, they rejected him at birth even though he didn't have a lot of the medical problems associated with DS.   In England they would have had the right to starve him to death, which is what they would have preferred, but in Australia they didn't so he was given up for adoption.  Mark is an unusual DS person in that he has an IQ of around 120, and goes to "normal" school and is toward the top of the class in most subjects.   His adopted Mother spent many hours in activities to stimulate his brain development when he was a baby, that plus being from a "brainy" biological family made him what he is.  
 
Another DS boy I knew had an IQ of 105, Mom is a teacher and Dad a lawyer.   Cameron was a very bright and bubbly 6 month old when I met him, his parents had put off having children until they were in their 40s and Cameron was an only and very much loved child. 
 
Both of these boys will not be without problems, as they grow and realizes the lack of value that society in general has for their people, they and any other high functioning Down's people will probably feel a little like Jews in Hitler's Germany.
 
Sue
about people with Downs


wannabe lurker jumppin in here
from the lil ive seen, my 2cents? downs kids arent deficient, they have gifts
we dont...maybe were deficient? lol
life is full of what ifs?....

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[email protected]

In a message dated 04/18/2001 1:20:22 PM !!!First Boot!!!,
ambersand@... writes:


This was supposed to be Re the person who noted that they would opt for
abortion if they found the child was Downs...

Why?  




Because I know my own limitations and what I can handle and what I can't.

This is a deeply personal decision.

Nance

Vaughnde Edwards

No there is nothing wrong with people who have Downs. I totally agree with you there. However, there are those who dream/wish for a perfect world where there are no disabilities. There are also those who feel that they are NOT capable of raising a child with downs. Myself, I feel that if the Lord had given me a child with downs, then He would also equip me to learn from and with that child and pour out HIS love for/with/through that child. I love all kids...no matter what...always been that way. To me abortion has always been murder and I will always feel and think that way. Doesn't mean I impose my feelings or thoughts on others who do have abortions. I feel sorry for the child and parent who miss out on a blessing when they abort.
 
Vaughnde Lee
Missoula, Montana
http://www.stampinbookworm.eboard.com
-----Original Message-----
From: ambersand <ambersand@...>
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Date: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 7:19 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Downs Syn

This was supposed to be Re the person who noted that they would opt for abortion if they found the child was Downs...

Why?  And no, this is not an abortion question; it's a question about Down Syndrome.  What is so bad about people with Downs?  I used to work with several children and young people in aquatic therapy and they were all wonderful.  The functioned quite well and were very sociable.  Why would this condition be the reason for abortion?  Am I missing something?  They are not horribly disfigured; they won't suffer and die in agony; and although they may not aspire to be brain surgeons, a lot do have jobs and do care for their personal needs.  Don't they?

Help me out of my cave folks.

Kandi


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In a message dated 4/18/01 11:10:56 AM, stampinbookworm@... writes:

<< No there is nothing wrong with people who have Downs. I totally agree with
you there. However, there are those who dream/wish for a perfect world where
there are no disabilities. >>

In the case of a mom in her forties, she might well be considering that she
might not live until the child is grown. (Just a factor some might not have
considered.)

Lynda

There are lots of levels of DS. The folks you see are the high level DS
kids. What you aren't seeing is the kids at SDC and other centers like it.
Not everyone is able to devote the time and energy that is necessary to
bring a DS child to a high enough level to function at a group home. It is
really something that is between them and their hubby.

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "ambersand" <ambersand@...>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2001 6:19 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Downs Syn


> This was supposed to be Re the person who noted that they would opt for
abortion if they found the child was Downs...
>
> Why? And no, this is not an abortion question; it's a question about Down
Syndrome. What is so bad about people with Downs? I used to work with
several children and young people in aquatic therapy and they were all
wonderful. The functioned quite well and were very sociable. Why would
this condition be the reason for abortion? Am I missing something? They
are not horribly disfigured; they won't suffer and die in agony; and
although they may not aspire to be brain surgeons, a lot do have jobs and do
care for their personal needs. Don't they?
>
> Help me out of my cave folks.
>
> Kandi
>
>
> Message boards, timely articles, a free newsletter and more!
> Check it all out at: http://www.unschooling.com
>
> To unsubscribe, set preferences, or read archives:
> http://www.egroups.com/group/Unschooling-dotcom
>
> Another great list sponsored by Home Education Magazine!
> http://www.home-ed-magazine.com
>
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>

[email protected]

In a message dated 4/18/01 4:09:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lurine@... writes:


There are lots of levels of DS.  The folks you see are the high level DS
kids.  What you aren't seeing is the kids at SDC and other centers like it.
Not everyone is able to devote the time and energy that is necessary to
bring a DS child to a high enough level to function at a group home.  It is
really something that is between them and their hubby.


I agree with this.

There, are, however other options, besides abortion (which I have my own
opinion on and won't go into....I never mix abortion and politics views with
friendship). I had a friend (pen pal) who had no testing done (she was in her
early 20's) while pregnant and her 3rd child was born with DS. Had she known
before he was born, she would have aborted. Since she didn't know she and her
husband opted to place their child up for adoption. It was a hard choice but
his adopted parents only  adopt DS babies and they provide wonderful care for
them (lots of love and attention a well as medical care) and have extended
family and friends who will care for these children if their parents should
die/when they die.

 Tracy
Wife to Gary since 10/22/85
Unschooling Mom to 4 sweet boys:
Crisstoffer ~ born 8/29/86,
Andru ~ born 1/8/88,
Wylliam ~ born 8/17/90,
&
Danyel ~ born 12/12/91

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