Why would people be against a cure for Down syndrome? One theory is that it's all about pride and acceptance. To want to cure something implies that the something is bad or abnormal, and people don't want to feel thay they are bad or abnormal. They want love and acceptance, and can you blame them?
Why can't we love and accept those who are different now, and if there was a cure why can't we accept that too if the person wants to be cured?
I love my daughter with all my being. I am so proud of her and think she is the most adorable thing ever. I love other people with DS, too. There is just something about them that is very special. It's like looking into the eyes of God.
On the other hand, I am also sad for my daughter in some respects. Yes, she will achieve to the best of her ability, find happiness, and have a good life. She makes people smile. But there will also be things she will never do. She will always have to struggle. She will be the butt of jokes from cruel people. She is more vulnerable to predators. She will have trouble with speech. She has a higher chance of becoming sick from a myriad of diseases including Alzheimers and leukemia.
Despite the struggles, she WILL have a good life, she WILL inspire people, she WILL help in promoting acceptance and awareness of Down syndrome, and she most definitely WILL love and be loved for who she is.
So would I cure my daughter if I could? I think I would, with mixed feelings. I would miss some things about Down syndrome, but as for the health issues, I'd kiss them goodbye and never look back.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Would you cure your child of Down syndrome if you could?
Posted by Nikki at 1:22 PM
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3 comments:
Such a tough subject. Good post :) I am Christina I have two girls. Kallie and Brittany, Kallie is my angel with DS.
Hi Christina! It is a very tough subject. When I was writing it, I actually paused at the end not knowing how I would answer my own question. So many issues surround a seemingly simple question! Thanks for your comment.
I'm not Madison's mom, so I'm sure I have a different perspective. I would never minimize the difficulty of her health issues. That must be scary looking into the future and seeing those possibilities out there. And yet, to think of changing Maddie in any way is a terrible thought for me. She is an angel, a link between earth and heaven, a messenger and testimony of God's love. To "cure" her would be like clipping her wings and relegating her to the muck of this world like the rest of us. Throughout her life, she is going to profoundly touch other people, like she already has me, and I would think the world would shudder to imagine having that taken away. Thank you for bearing the burden so the rest of us can enjoy the blessings.
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