Troubling Articles

I know that I'm supposed to continue Andrew's Birth story. But today I came upon two articles about the birth rates of babies with Down Syndrome in the UK and I was troubled and had to share.

This are the links to these article:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/downs-syndrome-births-drop-uk/story?id=8925638

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20091027/hl_afp/britainwomanhealthdownsmaternity_20091027162053

I am VERY UPSET that they can't even use the proper terms! It's NOT Down's Syndrome...it's Down Syndrome. It's NOT a Down's baby...it's a baby with Down Syndrome! But the facts about abortion rates are scary. I wish that people knew more than the "risks" of having a baby with Down Syndrome! I wouldn't trade my son for anything! My son is the most mild-mannered, happy boy that I've ever seen. At almost three years old, he is thriving! Although he doesn't speak much, he gestures and signs and we UNDERSTAND him. We know what he wants as well as he does. He comforts us when we are sick and hugs his little sister when she falls and cries. His future is just as bright as any other child. He will be a contributing member of society. Will he go to college? Well, that's up to him. But, he will have a place to live, either on his own or with his family. He'll have chores to do and he'll have a job to make money to buy the things that he wants and needs.

And, you know what, he is going to be happy. He is going to be happy because he is surrounded by his family and his friends who love him and support him in whatever he chooses to do with his life. He will reach for the stars and he will reach them. As his mother, it is my job to help him just as I will help his siblings. He is no different from them. He just has a little something extra. So there is more of him to love!

I found the website of the company whose writer published one of the articles. I sent an email asking them to use the proper terminology for the diagnosis. Please consider doing the same. The website address is: http://www.medpagetoday.com.

Knowledge is power and I'm just trying to do my part to educate those who don't know!

UPDATE: I received an email of apology from the editor. It reads:
Dear Mrs. Yahara,

I would like to apologize for our Down syndrome mistake. As the editor of the story, I not only read it and made normal editorial changes in it, but discussed it with our reviewer, who knew the doctor it quoted. We all let this go by. I have corrected the very same mistake myself in many stories (and usually watch for it because we have a close family friend, now 26, with Down syndrome). I can only say I will try to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Regards,
Mike Himowitz

Michael J. Himowitz
Deputy Managing Editor
MedpageToday.com
http://www.medpagetoday.com"
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