Sunday, January 21, 2007

Golly What Did Jon Do?

The Attack on Kids With Down Syndrome
By George F. Will
Newsweek


Jan. 29, 2007 issue - What did Jon Will and the more than 350,000 American citizens like him do to tick off the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists? It seems to want to help eliminate from America almost all of a category of citizens, a category that includes Jon.

Born in 1972, Jon has Down syndrome. That is a congenital condition resulting from a chromosomal defect that causes varying degrees of mental retardation and some physical abnormalities, such as low muscle tone, small stature, a single crease across the center of the palms, flatness of the back of the head and an upward slant to the eyes (when Jon was born, Down syndrome people were still commonly called Mongoloids). There also is increased risk of congenital heart defects, childhood leukemia and Alzheimer's disease. Down syndrome, although not common, is among the most common congenital anomalies—47.9 per 100,000 births (compared with 77.7 with cleft lips or palates, which also can be diagnosed in utero, and which sometimes result in abortions)................................[please click here to read the rest of this wonderful column]


I've been writing my piece regarding the new ACOG recommendations. It is titled 'Seek and Destroy' and it recounts my experience with the "NEW" recommendations and the "INTENT" of the sonographer we had who was intent on intentifying my child with T21 and how appalled she was when we showed up back in her office at 38 weeks gestation and "STILL" pregnant.

Life has been very busy of late [Rick is in Costa Rica] and the children are busy, busy, busy....hence, so is Momma!

2 comments:

Jeanne said...

Blessings to you and your lovely family.
Love Jeanne

Anonymous said...

I can't wait to hear your story. Wow sounds like an experience but I am so thankful that you did "show back up" otherwise we would not be able to share your family.

Hugs
Debra and Hope