Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
A Message From The Mother of a Child With Down’s Syndrome

A Message From The Mother of a Child With Down’s Syndrome

Last updated on: August 17, 2017 at 2:44 pm by Guest Contributor

A Message From The Mother of a Child With Down’s Syndrome 2017-08-17T14:44:29-04:00 Guest Contributor

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Emily_Cake_paint

I don’t want to post this, it’s really uncomfortable for me, but my gut and my heart are pulling me to share this. It literally feels like my heart is being ripped from my body.

Do you know why I post so much about Emily? Do you know why I am so passionate about the Down syndrome community? Do you know why Down syndrome awareness means so much to me?

Is it just because I like sharing Emily’s face publicly? Not at all.

Is it just because I want to raise money? Not even close.

It’s because outside of my FB family bubble, people all over this world are constantly debating if people LIKE MY Daughter are worthy of life. Seriously, let that sink in for a minute. Is Emily worthy of life? Knowing what you know, would you kill her? What if this was a constant topic of conversation about YOUR CHILD?? How would you feel? Would you do everything in your power to raise awareness? Do everything you could to let this world know how AMAZING your child is? Do you have any idea how it feels to have to prove to people that Emily (a human being just like you) deserves to live? Receive health care? Receive a quality education like every other child is just automatically granted??
This week there’s been two stories, one from Australia (aired a few nights ago on 60 minutes Australia) and one from Iceland that seriously have disturbed me and rip my heart out. These are the headlines:

“Iceland is on pace to virtually eliminate Down syndrome through abortion”

“The End of Down syndrome in Australia?”

One hundred per cent of prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome are aborted in Iceland. And they aren’t the only countries trending… Think about what you know of Emily. People WANT TO ELIMINATE HER and her friends – literally wipe them off the face of the earth. Did you know Down syndrome is naturally occurring, it occurs at the time of conception? It’s been around for as far back as humans can be traced. Something that the Universe decided should be part of this world. When will we embrace our differences, celebrate our differences and acknowledge everyone’s unique abilities?

What’s after this? Who will be eliminated next?

Please look at her face. I wouldn’t be doing my job as her mother if I didn’t let everyone know how absolutely beautiful and amazing Emily is. Is it ridiculous that I even have to say this? Yes. But based on stories like these, and the comments people leave, I need to be shouting this from the top of the world!

I am the lucky one to have been chosen to be Emily’s mom. Not only is she my beautiful child, but she has brought more joy, truth and love to not only my life, but many of you and countless others that she’s met…. and she’s ONLY 1 YEAR OLD!

Thank you to my loving mom friends in the Down syndrome community for putting into words what I’ve been struggling to even acknowledge and allowing me to share it.

Emily, you amaze us every day….. you are a friend, daughter, sister and a HUMAN BEING that so many are grateful for. You work hard and you play hard….and I would NEVER change you. We will watch you grow and we will support you through good times and not so good times. No matter what….we promise to advocate, support and be by your side…..but ultimately, we want to thank you for all that you have and will teach us.

(Photo of Emily, shared with her mother’s permission)

Previous Post

August 16, 2017

An Update On The Death Threat Situation

Next Post

August 17, 2017 How Will We Preserve History Without Confederate Statues?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category abortion Abuse Advent America American Christianity angel angels Annunciation Appalachia apparition apparition chaser apparition chasers apparition culture art art review babies baby baby Jesus Bad Lip Reading bad statue contest bath beauty Bible story blog blogkeeping blood book review Brandon Sanderson breastfeeding bus Catholic catholic conspiracy alarmism Catholic Oppositional Disorder Charismatic Renewal Charlie the Cat chastity Christ Christian idenitity Christianity and Judaism Chronic Illness clean clothing COD piece comedy compassion conscience conspiracy theory conversion cop-on-black violence Crucifixion cry of the poor culture Daesh Daily Saints death death penalty devotional diaconate diaper diapers dirty disability Donald Trump Dorothy Day dream drugs Eastern Catholicism Eastern Christianity education election election update Elsewhere on Patheos empathy environment Fear feminism film review fish flashback fluffy buns food Franciscan University of Steubenville Friendship Room fun Gabriel gardening gospel hair-splitting Heaven hell heresy Hillary Clinton history Holly the Witch Holy Spirit holy war Homeschooling homosexuality horror human dignity humor Icon idol immigrants infection inter-religious dialogue Interpretation of Scripture Islam Jesus Jihad Joseph joy laity and lay vocations lamb dinner laundry lent lgbtq literature love manners Mary Medicine and Science Meditation mercy mess milk misogyny Missouri monasticism monster motherhood mourn with those mourn movies movis music mystery nature neurodiversity New Pro-Life Movement news nonsense nostalgia O antiphons obituary objectification Ohio Valley Ordinary Time ordination Ordo Amoris parable paradox Passover peanut butter personal beliefs pets philosophy Planet Charismatic poetry politics polls poop Pope Francis Pope Leo power in the Church prayer prayer request prayers preferential option for non-violence president presidential election priest primary private revelation pro-life prophecy Public face of Catholicism Pure Flix Q and A race racism random rape rape. sexuality reader's request Reckoners refugee religious trauma ressurrection Right to life Saints saints and celebrations same-sex same-sex marriage satire scandal secular feasts seder Seven Joys Seven Last Words sex sexual ethics sexuality silencing six months skid row slavery social justice Speculative fiction spiritual abuse spoon stain story suffering suffrage suffragette Sunday Gospel temple Tenebrae Responsories Terror the exorcist The Friendship Room The New Pro-Life Movement Things I Learned on the Internet tin cup traffic true story tv review Uncategorized USCCB vice and temptation violence Virtue virtue and vice war Way of the Cross whimsy whole life women's ordination work of mercy Year A

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian holiday celebrates Jesus' resurrection?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Good Friday Christmas Pentecost Easter