Palin confirms baby has Down syndrome

Ancorage Daily News ^ | April 21st, 2008 03:32 PM | LISA DEMER

[skeptoid]

Gov. Sarah Palin was back at work today, holding a meeting on the natural gas pipeline three days after giving birth to her fifth child.
Palin and her husband, Todd, showed the baby, Trig Paxson Van Palin, to a few reporters and talked about the sooner-than-expected delivery.
Trig arrived about a month early and has Down syndrome, the governor confirmed. Testing during early pregnancy revealed the condition. Palin said she was sad at first but they now feel blessed that God chose them. The couple has lots of family support, she said.

[skeptoid]

JIM LAVRAKAS / Anchorage Daily News
Governor Sara Palin and her husband Todd present their fifth child, a boy named
Trig Paxson Van Palin, who was born April 18th, 2008.
The Palin's confirmed that Trig, their second son, has Down Syndrome.

She gave the keynote luncheon address, then she and Todd caught an Alaska Airlines flight back to Alaska. She said was never in full-blown labor on the plane but was having a contraction or two every hour.

"By my fifth child, I know what labor feels like," Palin said. That wasn't labor, she said.

[cherry]

our Congresswoman from Eastern Washington had her first baby last year....and that baby boy also had Downs.....

God bless you Governor Palin.....character.....sometimes its all we have to fall back on...and you,Governor, have character.....

[psjones]

My son has Down Syndrome, so I can imagine what the family must be going through. Lots of challenges ahead, hopefully the baby has no major medical issues.

[GunnyB]

My youngest Son has Down Syndrome, and he is a healthy, wonderful, and happy little kid. His two older brothers love him and include him in everything. We have been truly blessed to have this Angel without wings in our lives! I know that Gov Palin will love and care for this great little guy - my prayers are certainly with all of them.

[ToastedHead]

What a wonderful, strong woman! I may have a new hero.

[tgslTakoma]

He is a beautiful baby. I wish the family only the best. God Bless them all.

---

HEAVEN’S VERY SPECIAL CHILD

A meeting was held quite far from Earth!
It’s time again for another birth.
Said the Angels to the LORD above,
This Special Child will need much love.

His progress may be very slow,
Accomplishments he may not show.
And he’ll require extra care
From the folks he meets down there.

He may not run or laugh or play,
His thoughts may seem quite far away,
In many ways he won’t adapt,
And he’ll be known as handicapped.

So let’s be careful where he’s sent,
We want his life to be content.
Please LORD, find the parents who
Will do a special job for you.

They will not realize right away
The leading role they’re asked to play,
But with this child sent from above
Comes stronger faith and richer love.

And soon they’ll know the privilege given
In caring for their gift from Heaven.
Their precious charge, so meek and mild,
Is HEAVEN’S VERY SPECIAL CHILD.

by Edna Massionilla
December 1981
The Optomist- newsletter for PROUD
Parents Regional Outreach for Understanding Down’s Inc.

[napscoordinator]

What a wonderful woman! How many people (liberals) would have found out about this early in the pregnancy and aborted the little guy. My wife is giving birth in May with number 4 and if God decided to give us a baby with special needs of any kind...I know for a fact that we would have it anyway. Even though number 4 is on the way...we are not necessarily done. After all it is boy number 4...must have a daughter someday if that is in God’s plan. We are a bit younger than the governor at 38 for both of us, but could still be having kids at 44...who knows.

[Jeff Chandler]

I knew that before the announcement, when I saw the photo.

[informavoracious]

God bless this little guy, who will enrich the lives of everyone he meets, and God bless his family, who chose good over evil.

[athelass]

What a woman. In labor on the plane, back at work in three days, nursing the baby on the job, which just happens to be Governor of Alaska. That right there is the difference between feminine and feminist. Just look at their faces. God did indeed choose well to give that baby to such beautiful people.

[nyyankeefan]

this is the woman that the piaps and all her so-called feminists should ascribe to be!!!!

hope this baby has a very happy life!!!

[srmorton]

On the contrary, I did not think the photo showed that he has very obvious Down Syndrome characteristics. From what had been said previously and knowing Governor Palin’s age, my first thought was Down Syndrome, but, when I saw his picture, I was not sure. There are many other genetic and chromosomal abnormalities that are much worse than Down Syndrome. This child will bring joy and sunshine into their lives every day. He will one day be able to live on his own and make positive contributions to society.

[visualops]

What a wonderful story of unconditional love for your family and God’s creation. Very inspiring and a great example for families everywhere. God Bless you Governor!

[ZinGirl]

"...they now feel blessed that God chose them"

comment worth a BUMP

[43north]

The Palin Family is one class act. God bless them all.

[fetal heart beats by 21st day]

God bless them all!

[Vigilanteman]

Not everyone who is physically able to conceive a child is fit to be a parent and only a few of those have what it takes to be parents of a special needs child.

My heart goes out to Governor and Mr. Palin. They are the type of people who should be held up as political role models.

I seem to recall that former Senator Jesse Helms and his wife adopted a special needs child because they were awesome parents and, like the Palins, didn't try to hide him but didn't use him as a political prop either.

[KantianBurke]

“In labor on the plane, back at work in three days, nursing the baby on the job, which just happens to be Governor of Alaska. That right there is the difference between feminine and feminist.”

No offense but I don’t consider her actions commendable but selfish. She’s a mom with a newborn. Her “career” should be put on hold for an appropriate time.

[lonestar]

Last year's Prom King at our local high school has Down's Syndrome.

I worked with handicapped children for over 30 years and I know how much pleasure they can be...and stubborn! LOL!

[RichInOC]

And Trig is still smarter than Bill Maher.

[Anonymous Rex]

Correction...

“And Trig is ALREADY smarter than Bill Maher.”

[netmilsmom]

Challenges, tons! But you have to admit, no child loves you like a child with Down’s Syndrome!

Every parent of a child with DS, tells me of the blessing that child is.

God Bless this family.

[pke]

My hero too. God bless them!

[sr4402]

God Bless Them mightily. More Love has been given to their family.

[pke]

Have you seen “99 Balloons” on Youtube? Another beautiful family with a very special baby.

[SevenofNine]

Hey Kathy did you hear about your governor baby

[Jeff Chandler]

I did not think the photo showed that he has very obvious Down Syndrome characteristics.

It wasn't very obvious, but I've been around a lot of people with Down Syndrome.

[Flycatcher]

I don’t find it commendable either — but for a different reason. As your “handle” would suggest, you’re acquainted with Kant’s Categorical Imperative, which in a nutshell posits that true morality is our duty, and not something that can be defined through the process of languid or lazy thought.

By giving birth to a Down’s-syndrome baby (rather than aborting it), Governor Palin performed her duty as a moral human being.

But this case is an interesting sign of the times, isn’t it? We now commend and praise people for performing what should be a simple moral duty. What’s next, I wonder...