I wish I'd aborted the son I've spent 47 years caring for': It's a shocking.....

MailOnline ^ | 10.23.14 | Gillian Relf For The Daily Mail

[Morgana]

FULL TITLE: 'I wish I'd aborted the son I've spent 47 years caring for': It's a shocking admission - but read on before you judge

The pilot had been very patient but, after an hour of the plane waiting on the Tarmac at Heathrow, with my son Stephen refusing to get up off the floor, sit in his seat and buckle up, our bags were removed from the hold and he was carried off the flight, my husband Roy and I walking, hot-cheeked and humiliated, behind.

Our family holiday to Greece would not be going ahead, after all.

And no, Stephen was not an obstreperous toddler when this happened. He was 45 years old. This embarrassing scene happened two years ago and the episode is just one of the many challenges we have faced since Stephen, our second child, was born with Down's Syndrome.

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[Morgana]

I know exactly what they are going through. I have seen this.

They could have given the kid up for adoption.

Even now that they are getting on in years they can find him a group home with other Trisomy 21 adults.

[SatinDoll]

My mother used to volunteer at one of those homes - until one of those ‘adults’ picked up and threw a full-length sofa through the front window.

[Jonty30]

Downs can be very strong when pissed.

[GeronL]

This person is sick. Even if she felt that way, why would she admit it?

[Brother Cracker]

We all have our crosses to bear

[Morgana]

“This person is sick. Even if she felt that way, why would she admit it?”

It’s because of that story that came out about a week ago. Remember? About the woman who said she was going to abort her Trisomy 21 baby and felt no remorse about it.

Well they are running this story in order to “justify” it. Yes it’s no cake walk raising a Trisomy 21 child. Not anyone could do it. They could have given the child up for adoption. That falls under “could-a would-a should-a” at this point. Now their best bet is to put him in a group home. They are getting too old and he’s a hand full and always will be.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

But that strong???

That’s insane!

[al baby]

We all can I picked up a dirt bike once and tossed it into the dumpster at my apt right befroe the truck pulled up never heard that blasted thing again

[AnotherUnixGeek]

This person is sick. Even if she felt that way, why would she admit it?

I'd assume she's exhausted and saddened, not only by the fact that her son will require care for the rest of his life but by the number of years she and her husband have had to invest in their son, and will continue to.

But she and her husband have done it and are doing it - they didn't abort their son, they didn't give him up for adoption (odds are he'd never have been adopted and would be institutionalized by now). They deserve praise for their strength and their love for their son, and sympathy for their hardships.

My cousin has an autistic son in his mid twenties now - he's very strong, prone to occasional violent outbursts which are no joke at his age and size, and his affliction has altered their lives for as long as he's lived. He still lives at home, is loved and cared for, and they're doing their best for him as always - but they're worried about the future, they sometimes wonder what their lives would have been like if he'd been born healthy or if he'd never been born at all - and I'd never presume to blame them for that. They're carrying the load - they have the right to an occasional groan.

[GeronL]

I only blame them for wanting their son dead, sounds like they must really hate him deep down.

[Tax-chick]

Our family holiday to Greece would not be going ahead, after all.

Neither will mine, I'm sure. Ever.

[IrishBrigade]

I only blame them for wanting their son dead, sounds like they must really hate him deep down.

...you are grossly misinterpreting what she actually said...she was speaking of a hypothetical abortion, in the midst of depression and realization of the cruel facts of her son’s actual life...and if words are cheap, hypothetical ones are less expensive yet...

[Jonty30]

Humans are primates and inherently have primate strength. However, we are inhibited by our being civilized from acting full out, because we would end up injured half the time.

[cloudmountain]

They're carrying the load - they have the right to an occasional groan.

You said it!