Katie Couric's Notebook: Down Syndrome
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.
Video: 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.
Last year when I was visiting a local antique store a downs syndrome lady walked by. I was standing outside of the store looking at antiques on the sidewalk and this lady (only 4 ft tall) came up to me and asked if she could pray with me.. So I said sure..She took my hands and started her prayers..and then thanked me and strolled away...
I was touched to the heart by her gesture and I must say that her action changed my life..Ive been a christian for some time but this had to be one of my more profound christian experiences that I ever had.
Downs syndrome people are still people..to throw them away by abortion, rejection, or by humiliating them in public is a more devestaing crime and injustice to humanity. God has his finger on those who are broken hearted,.,,,but is even more close to those who are disabled, or have a dysfunction that hampers them from "normal" living. This is proven in this wonderful downs syndrome lady who walks the streets in her daily routine in Marshfield wis.
thanks
d.r.
You are a woman and a mother. I think that you handled this subject matter poorly. I think that the choice to have a baby with Down Syndrome is a very personal choice. Sara Palin wasn''t interview for this story. I think you could have covered the subject matter without using her as an example.
I support a woman''s right to choose to abort a baby she doesn''t want and to CHOOSE TO KEEP a baby she does want.
My husband has always felt that CBS had a political bias and I really felt that watching your newscast tonight.
I think that Sara Palin''s personal life has been given far more negative attention from the media that Obama/Biden''s.
Keep it real Katie.
Physician: first do no harm.
This piece was surprising in how irresponsibly negatively biased it was. The negative statement of Ms. Couric about the "difficult choice", was followed by her statement that people with DS will never live independently, followed by a physician listing all the negative aspects of Down Syndrome as a "fait accompli" -- and the tenor was set. These pronouncements are specious - they have grains of truth but aren''t the whole truth. All of the medical issues are treatable. Many people with DS do live independently- & they actually bring MANY, MANY benefits to both society and the families that they join. Families with members who have DS enjoy greater unity, lower divorce rates, lower rates of violence. Societies benefit from the artistic, spiritual, and vocational talents of those with DS. Oh, and they don''t lie, cheat, and steal...
"A Difficult Choice"? B.S.! Regardless of the spin of this story== it WASN''T a difficult choice for the Palin''s, it wasn''t for my family, and it wasn''t for thousands of others.
Having a child with DS won''t be difficult decision either -- for those who are fully informed by more responsible journalism than this piece. Hint- look for sources without a political ax to grind.
This piece was surprising in how irresponsibly negatively biased it was. The negative statement of Ms. Couric about the "difficult choice", was followed by her statement that people with DS will never live independently, followed by a physician listing all the negative aspects of Down Syndrome as a "fait accompli" -- and the tenor was set. These pronouncements are specious - they have grains of truth but aren''t the whole truth. All of the medical issues are treatable. Many people with DS do live independently- & they actually bring MANY, MANY benefits to both society and the families that they join. Families with members who have DS enjoy greater unity, lower divorce rates, lower rates of violence. Societies benefit from the artistic, spiritual, and vocational talents of those with DS. Oh, and they don''t lie, cheat, and steal...
"A Difficult Choice"? B.S.! Regardless of the spin of this story== it WASN''T a difficult choice for the Palin''s, it wasn''t for my family, and it wasn''t for thousands of others.
Having a child with DS won''t be difficult decision either -- for those who are fully informed by more responsible journalism than this piece. Hint- look for sources without a political ax to grind.
This piece was surprising in how irresponsibly negatively biased it was. The negative statement of Ms. Couric about the "difficult choice", was followed by her statement that people with DS will never live independently, followed by a physician listing all the negative aspects of Down Syndrome as a "fait accompli" -- and the tenor was set.
These pronouncements are specious - they have grains of truth but aren''t the whole truth. All of the medical issues are treatable. Many people with DS do live independently- & they actually bring MANY, MANY benefits to both society and the families that they join. Families with members who have DS enjoy greater unity, lower divorce rates, lower rates of violence. Societies benefit from the artistic, spiritual, and vocational talents of those with DS. Oh, and they don''t lie, cheat, and steal...
"A Difficult Choice"? B.S.! Regardless of the spin of this story== it WASN''T a difficult choice for the Palin''s, it wasn''t for my family, and it wasn''t for thousands of others.
Having a child with DS won''t be difficult decision either -- for those who are fully informed by more responsible journalism than this piece. Hint- look for sources without a political ax to grind.
This piece was surprising in how irresponsibly negatively biased it was. The negative statement of Ms. Couric about the "difficult choice", was followed by her statement that people with DS will never live independently, followed by a physician listing all the negative aspects of Down Syndrome as a "fait accompli" -- and the tenor was set.
These pronouncements are specious - they have grains of truth but aren''t the whole truth. All of the medical issues are treatable. Many people with DS do live independently- & they actually bring MANY, MANY benefits to both society and the families that they join. Families with members who have DS enjoy greater unity, lower divorce rates, lower rates of violence. Societies benefit from the artistic, spiritual, and vocational talents of those with DS. Oh, and they don''t lie, cheat, and steal...
"A Difficult Choice"? B.S.! Regardless of the spin of this story== it WASN''T a difficult choice for the Palin''s, it wasn''t for my family, and it wasn''t for thousands of others.
Having a child with DS won''t be difficult decision either -- for those who are fully informed by more responsible journalism than this piece. Hint- look for sources without a political ax to grind.
I demand a re-write.
john mccain''s approve that ad. do you?
Katie, you need to spend time with families who have children with Down syndrome. You will find the challenges are not with the child but with society and the systems that surround the child. Katie, I challege you to report on what can be done to accept and support people who have Down syndrome. There is a very good article that you can do a search for on the internet called "If People with Down Syndrome Ruled the World". You have the responsibility to make your wrong, right. When you educate yourself on Down syndrome you will find there is NEVER really a CHOICE to be made. Choice can be a very bad word and when it comes to ending life, it is the most evil of words.
as to our feelings when we knew that our children in our wombs have down syndrome? The high rate of percentage of pregnacy being aborted coz of the fear of the unknown given by the doctors
in taking care of the children with special needs.
I knew that my son has down syndrome I did not go for abortion, otherwise it is plain and simple SELECTIVE PREGNACY!
aLL BECAUSE THE CHILD HAS SPECIAL NEEDS, WE HAVE TO ABORT THEM? dONT BE PART OF STUPIDITY!
The child life begins with themoment of conception. The child has intra uterine life. He is entitled to, as we have to give him the best in life, and get out and see the wonders of this world!
My son Joseph is ten years of age with down syndrome. He answers the phone in the morning whenever I call my wife.He is doing great in school.He brings priceless joy to us, and our community.
Your mind is still corrupted by your environment for these kids used to be called as mentally retarded-mongoloids! But recent advances in intervetion and care make them useful and productive members of our society; they can even vote!
Please, rectify your wrong, or we will boycott your program, too! Same with we are doing with Oprah!
With that said, if Palin and McCain were elected, there would be nothing heroic about choosing to have a baby with Down syndrome, because every pregnancy would have to be brought to term. There would be no choice in the matter at all. You aren''t a hero if you had no choice.
And to put it bluntly -- we shouldn''t romanticize people with Down syndrome. Life is harder if you have Downs, or if a family member has it. Let''s not sugarcoat it.
Katie, your program NEEDS to do better justice to people with Ds. I know you''re planning other stories on Ds, too, and I sincerely hope that the Ds community will be heard loud and clear. PEOPLE WITH DOWN SYNDROME ARE CAPABLE PEOPLE, AND THEIR FAMILIES ACCEPT THEM FULLY. The medical community holds a strong bias against letting babies with Ds be born, and they look at our kids as needing to be "fixed." You come to my house and tell me what you think needs to be fixed about my daughter. You spend time with us, and see how "shattered" we are.
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???
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?
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!!!
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/bl/episodes/2008/09/09/segments/108539
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by ttbear1
September 12, 2008 9:04 PM PDT
- 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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