Touched by DS

Judging by the fact that 90% (my approximation, could be higher) of the babies born with Down Syndrome in Eastern Europe are abandoned by their families at birth

and

judging by the fact that 90% (or more, actual statistics) of the babies diagnosed prenatally with Down Syndrome in the USA are aborted

you would think

that raising a child with Down Syndrome is so difficult and challenging that it would ruin your life, make you a social outcast, and suck all the joy out of life.

People who know...know better. How do you explain the waiting list to adopt babies born in the USA with Down Syndrome? How do you explain the hundreds of families who give up their life savings and humiliate themselves raising money to adopt children with Down Syndrome internationally?

The truth is that all children are challenging. When you decide to become a parent you have no idea what may be in store for you, but you take what you get. I have a couple of children so I know this: they will all break your heart in some way or another, special needs or not.

Here is another thing I'd like to share: I've met the most incredible people simply because we are connected by that extra chromosome that our children with Down Syndrome share. What a gift these people are to me and my family. We are far wealthier, in the good way, than we ever were before Down Syndrome touched our family.