March 21st
Today is World Down Syndrome Day....let's celebrate!! In case your wondering why today is World Down Syndrome Day....Down syndrome people have an extra 21st chromosome. So they have 3 21st chromosomes. March is the 3rd month of the year and it's the 21st of March. Did you follow?
Celebrate today. I think I will go give my little boy a big hug and kiss.
I found this on another fellow blogger who has a child with Down syndrome (babymatthew.wordpress.com). I thought she did a great job explaining Down syndrome. I did change the names of her son to mine.
"Down syndrome was named after Dr. John Langdon Down, who first described the condition. The correct terminology is just that: Down syndrome. Not Down’s, or Down’s Syndrome, because Dr. Down did not have the condition (so we do not use the possessive form,) and “syndrome” is not capitalized because it is not a proper noun. You may also see Down syndrome abbreviated online as DS or Ds.
Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal anomaly, occurring in approximately 1 in 733 births in the US. However, as common as it is, there are less and less babies being born with the condition, because about 92-93% of mothers who receive a prenatal diagnosis of Ds choose to abort the baby. This comes to about 65,000+ babies aborted each year due to a prenatal diagnosis. I can’t tell you how much it saddens me that so many lives are lost. (I totally agree with her on this. I am amazed at how many people abort babies with Down syndrome. My life would not be fulfilled if I didn't have Kyler in it) I am sad not only for the babies, but also for the parents who are missing out on having an amazing child. And, I am sad for Kyler, who will have less friends who are like him. With fewer people having the condition, others will know less about it, there will be fewer resources for him and less research done about Ds.
When speaking about someone with Down syndrome (or really any other disability), parents and individuals with the condition prefer it if you put the person first. For example, “Kyler has Down syndrome.” We would never say, “Our Down syndrome son,” because that lets the condition define him. By now, you should know that Down syndrome definitely does not define our son, nor does it define any other person who has an extra 21st chromosome. Each individual is just that . . . an individual, which is why we also avoid making “blanket” statements about people with Down syndrome. Statements such as “They are always so happy,” are not only untrue, but offensive because they lump everyone with the condition into one category. To be safe, just avoid statements that start with “They are . . . “. I’ve come to really dislike the royal “they.” Are we too picky? Too sensitive? I don’t think so. As parents, we have to protect and stand up for our children. Words are powerful, so we need to be careful how we use them.
By the way, there are over 200 families on a waiting list, wanting to adopt a child with Down syndrome. If you think these children are not wanted, you are very, very wrong. There are families waiting to welcome and love a little one with an extra chromosome."
Well said Amy. Thanks.
