Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

My earliest memory of someone with Down syndrome came at a young age. My mom’s closest friend had a son with Down syndrome, and Joseph was just a part of our life. Later, my sister’s friend gave birth to a Down syndrome son, Frankie, who, to this day, is a joy to many around him. He faithfully assists at church, serving at the altar with reverence, and works with ethics that many people don’t have. Just the thought of these two men makes me smile as I think of the joy they have brought to so many lives. 

Last week, while at the grocery store, I saw two young adults who happen to have Down syndrome.  I could not help but think of how you rarely see young children with Down syndrome anymore. I realized most of these children are being aborted, and it made me deeply sad. In this day and age, Joseph and Frankie may not have had a chance. Between 90 and 94 percent of babies who are diagnosed in utero with Down syndrome are terminated today. That number is likely to increase as a result of a new test that can detect Down syndrome at seven weeks just by drawing a slight amount of the mother's blood.

The pressure to abort

I have learned a lot about this subject over the past few years, as I have become familiar with more and more couples who aborted because of an adverse prenatal diagnosis. Down syndrome, a genetic disorder, occurs when a baby somehow develops 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. It leads to mental retardation, slower physical development, unusual facial characteristics, and a risk of heart defects. 

But whether it is due to Down syndrome or another adverse diagnosis, many members of the medical community pressure couples to abort and attempt to instill guilt for even considering bringing a disabled child to term. Sadly, couples are sometimes even given a go-a-head by members of the clergy who mistakenly believe it is compassionate to save them from what society considers a less-than-perfect child. When they realize what they have done, these couples not only experience guilt, shame, and profound grief, but also anger at those professionals whom they trusted to have their best interests at heart.

The rest is here.