Posted on 10/15/2025 8:37:31 PM PDT by Morgana
It is perfectly fitting that Down Syndrome Awareness Month coincides with Respect Life Month every October. Our brothers and sisters with Down syndrome can teach us many lessons about life.
They encourage us to cherish the gift of life, but also not to take ourselves too seriously. They approach life with some of the greatest exuberance and joy. And they remind us that we may each have different abilities, individual gifts, and unique challenges but every human life is valuable.
Life with Down syndrome is not without its challenges.
People with Down syndrome experience cognitive and developmental delays as well as increased risks for various health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease and heart conditions. People with Down syndrome are often subject to social stigma, exclusion, and discrimination. Stereotyping and ignorance can be barriers for employment, education, and full participation in society.
But the most devastating form of discrimination faced by people with Down syndrome is abortion.
Today in the United States, anywhere between 60%-90% of unborn babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted.
“Misconceptions about Down syndrome and a lack of counseling following a positive screening likely leads to more children being abort
ed than otherwise would have been had the parents had better information,” suggested a 2022 U.S. Senate Committee report.
The abortion rates are even higher in Iceland where some health officials seem to be proud that their country has prevented the vast majority of people with Down syndrome from being born. On average, just one or two babies with Down syndrome are born in Iceland each year, usually thanks to testing errors.
“We don’t look at abortion as a murder. We look at (Down syndrome) as a thing that we ended. We ended a possible life that may have had a huge complication…preventing suffering for the child and for the family,” Helga Sol Olafsdottir, a pregnancy counselor at Landspitali University Hospital, told CBS News.
It’s outrageous to claim that abortion “prevents suffering for the child,” especially considering these babies are likely subjected to gruesome dismemberment abortions.
The earliest testing for Down syndrome can be done at 10 weeks, which also happens to be the cut-off for the use of abortion drugs. Amniocentesis, one of the most common diagnostic tests, is typically done between 15-20 weeks. Science confirms that unborn babies can experience pain by 15 weeks, if not earlier. There is also evidence to suggest that they feel pain even more intensely than we do because pain inhibitors are not developed until later in pregnancy.
What do people with Down syndrome have to say about it? Would people with Down syndrome prefer to have never been born? Would they have preferred to be killed by abortion?
In a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics that surveyed people with Down Syndrome, nearly 99% said they were happy with their lives; 97% liked who they are; and 96% liked how they look.
“In our qualitative analysis, people with Down syndrome encouraged parents to love their babies with Down syndrome, mentioning that their own lives were good. They further encouraged healthcare professionals to value them, emphasizing that they share similar hopes and dreams as people without Down syndrome. Overall, the overwhelming majority of people with Down syndrome surveyed indicate they live happy and fulfilling lives,” the study concluded.
In addition to celebrating the lives of our brothers and sisters with Down syndrome, we should not forget to honor their parents who courageously chose life. Especially those who did so in the face of pressure from medical professionals, family members, or others. Their decision does not come without its share of difficulties. Parents of children with Down syndrome need special resources and support. But as most parents can attest, there are few things in life more fulfilling than raising and caring for a child.
Life offers no guarantees, but abortion offers no chances. Every human person deserves a chance at life. No matter how many chromosomes they have.
LifeNews Note: In addition to writing for LifeNews, Andrew Bair has worked for the National Right to Life Committee and the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation. For more than 15 years, Bair has been involved in electing pro-life candidates, grassroots organizing, and advocating for pro-life policies across the country. He is a graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville and currently resides in Alexandria, Virginia. He can be reached at Bair.ProLifePolitics@gmail.com or on X: @ProLifePolitics.
Of course. Tea sounds and amniocentesis neither of which are medically necessary
Ironically, and perhaps mercifully: autism can’t be discovered in utero.
They have a blood test for down syndrome that a woman can take as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy. You are just going to love the name of it. “MaterniT 21”
Here is more about it
“the MaterniT 21 PLUS test analyzes genetic information that enters your bloodstream from the placenta. It screens for certain chromosomal abnormalities.”
https://womenshealth.labcorp.com/patients/pregnancy/MaterniT21plus
They are currently looking for a test for that too just like MaterniT 21. (see my post 4)
And the haters showed their true colors.
Decades ago, I worked as a fundraiser at the Exception Children’s Foundation in Los Angeles. Worked as a fundraiser (lots of Hollywood people contributed a lot). and saw what wonderful little kids these can be with the right kind of training. Most learned social skills, almost all produced really interesting art work.
Even grownups with Down’s Syndrome can be delightful if they have the right training. Aborting a precious baby like this brings tears to my eyes. People are dumber than lizards.
Agreed. Thank you for sharing.
And who is ultimately deciding to murder them?
Sadly 10-15% of people with DS also have autism, which can truly interfere with being loving and happy.
I know a girl who has DS, autism, and a physical disability. She scarcely relates to others at all, so intent is she on stimming, to the point self-injury at times. Often absolutely miserable.
She can be fed and guided from one place to another, that’s about it.
My cousin has a daughter with DS who is very interactive, happy, can read and write - but it doesn’t always turn out so well.
And this is only based on a blood test.
I wonder what the proof is that the baby actually had Down’s or was just a false positive with the end result of a healthy, perfectly fine baby being butchered?
‘anywhere between 60%-90%’
That’s a rather wide band.
Surprised there’s not a better estimate of the data.
It does seem to be a SWAG.
Horrific and interesting. What is the root cause of autism?
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