Couric & Co.
September 10, 2008 5:41 PM

Katie Couric's Notebook: Down Syndrome

By
Katie Couric
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Katie Couric's Notebook
You've probably seen pictures of Sarah Palin and her husband with their five month-old son. He's one of the 5,000 babies born in this country each year with Down Syndrome. It's a heart-breaking diagnosis for any parent ... hopes and dreams suddenly shattered. It means their won't be able to live independently as an adult.

Advocacy groups are using Palin's candidacy as a chance to educate Americans about this genetic disorder, and that includes advising doctors to give expectant couples the entire picture, and not just one option.

In many cases, a woman who is told she's carrying a baby with Down Syndrome terminates her pregnancy. That can be an agonizing choice, but the parents of children with Down Syndrome say doctors do need to give parents all the information they need and deserve so they can make the choice that's right for them.

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by ttbear1 September 13, 2008 12:04 AM EDT
As a mother of a little boy with down syndrome--I just want to say how much of a blessing he has been to me and our family. Sure the news is heart-breaking--your dreams are shattered---until you see that sweet face and help them grow and learn---reaching the same milestones as other children---just a little later. He is the sweetest child--unconditional love for everyone--hugs and kisses--not ever being embarrassed of how much his parents LOVE him. New dreams are in place--because honestly--do typical children do all the things we want them to :)Children will do what is expected and encouraged---if we as parents do not expect our children to accomplish things they won''t. Children w/DS need to be encouraged and challenged--just like typically developing children.
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by cpm7 September 12, 2008 2:34 AM EDT
For a much more balanced piece on raising a child with Down Syndrome listen to this:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/2008/09/09/segments/108539
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by q1234biteme September 11, 2008 10:02 PM EDT
isn''t she(Palin)anti-abortion? :x
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by bjd4 September 11, 2008 8:40 PM EDT
Dear "Joseph8221"....

Re: your comment: "Why not feature mothers with just delivered babies and those in pregnancy, and those kids in school, and working."

I, TOO, WOULD LIKE TO SEE ON CBS - OR ANY OTHER NEWS STATION - A PANEL OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN OF ALL AGES WITH DS AND HAVE THEM GET OUR VIEWS DIRECTLY - THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY ENLIGHTENING TO MANY!!!
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by bjd4 September 11, 2008 8:37 PM EDT
Dear "Maryland443":

While I agree with you about equal coverage, who are YOU to say it''s harder for those living with Down syndrome or for their families?

While it may indeed be more challenging early on - and that depends on each situation - PLEASE DON''T GENERALIZE OUR FAMILIES INTO YOUR LITTLE BOX, HUH?
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by wcwr1 September 11, 2008 7:21 PM EDT
God chooses. We should obey Her choices.
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by wcwr1 September 11, 2008 7:19 PM EDT
maryland443, electing the McCain-Palin ticket will not overturn Roe vs Wade. If only it were so.
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by ericdrexil September 11, 2008 6:22 PM EDT
Who has the right to proclaim a life worth living? My son is 19 and has challenges with many activities. He loves life. I love him. If I knew he would be in this condition I would do exactly as I have done. He is still learning. Wish I could say the same for you.
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by bethj3 September 11, 2008 5:00 PM EDT
On the program you stated that there were 400,000+ people in the U.S. with Down syndrome, and that 5000 babies with Down syndrome are born each year. These numbers seem to me to be mutually inconsistent - assuming a constant birth rate, that''s 80 years to get to 400,000, with NO deaths - yet even 25 years ago life expectancy for children with this syndrome was far lower than it is today. Although the number of annual births probably hasn''t been constant, even a much higher birth rate would have to be balanced against a higher death rate in making this calculation. Can someone tell me where the 400,000 estimate comes from?
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by guamarcy September 11, 2008 4:57 PM EDT
I had two of my four children in my forties. When I was pregnant with my youngest, the blood screening indicated that my child might have Downs. I opted to have a amnio, not to abort the child but to plan to fly out of Guam before her birth so that my special needs baby would have access to the best medical care in California. Because I knew that there are inherent risks as a mother of "advanced maternal age" (alert on my file) and that a Downs baby often has other congenital conditions, I could not (airline rules) and should not (my concern for my baby) fly after my 7th month. Fortunately, I naturally delivered a healthy and beautiful baby girl on Guam on 2/15/97.

I tell my story because I have been puzzled since first hearing about Palin, how she could possibly have risked her baby by flying to Texas during the last month of her pregnancy with Trigg and why she hid the news that he would have Downs Syndrome from her children, notably Willow who independently recognized his condition after the birth.

I am also puzzled why Katie did not make any disclaimer last night about the McCain''s (re "lipstick on a pig" ad) unauthorized used of Katie''s clip re sexism in politics???
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