Dear Doctor,
You sat next to me in a cold conference room and told me that our baby would be born with Down syndrome. But you didn't stop there. You went on for more than ten minutes explaining to me that aborting this child at this stage was OK, or that I could still decide in the next two to three weeks. You said our life would be very difficult and affected negatively by this child. We met again after non-invasive test results came in and again you went on and on about terminating my pregnancy. Saying our life would be "better" without this baby.
Dear Doctor, You failed to tell me that my baby would look into my eyes with trust and joy seconds after being born. You failed to tell me that our baby would pull herself to a sitting position holding on to my thumbs at only two days old. You failed to mention that she would roll over at six weeks. You actually failed to say all the amazing things she could do. You never once let us know our baby would be a joy and a gift. You were more interested in making our baby non-existent.
Dear Doctor, the fear you implanted in our hearts caused a lot of grieving, tears, anger, frustration and sadness. It breaks my heart to think of all those mothers you may have scared into terminating their pregnancies and robbing them of the beauty of Down syndrome. Our baby is not a mistake, God doesn't make mistakes, our baby has a name, she's not a label. Our baby has feelings and a magical personality. She has a way of magnetically attracting people to her.
Dear Doctor, I invite you to do your human research, to follow families who are blessed with loved ones with Down syndrome on social media. To see how we live each day, to witness the joy, the love, the ABILITY these wonderful children possess.
I'm writing this letter to respectfully let you know, you were wrong! Your words impact others so I encourage you to humanize science and take the time to follow the lives of people with Down syndrome to give parents hope. Because the statistics you gave us have changed.
People with Down Syndrome are not only living longer, they are owning businesses, they are getting married, they are even winning Emmy's! Our loved ones are living full beautiful lives, if we are willing to give them a chance and a loving path for their parents to know that life will be OK!
Our lives feel more blessed than we could have ever imagined, our daughter is loved and cared for by many, including strangers.
If you have just been given a diagnoses of Down syndrome, I want to be the first to congratulate you! Welcome to #theluckyfew club. You will learn that your baby will look like your family, your baby will bring you so much love and he or she will be successful in life with your guidance and with your advocacy. Your baby will be unique, because we are all different yet we are all human, we all have a heart, and we all have feelings.
And the best part is that you will live a very "normal" life.