Palin raises hope for parents of disabled kids

KAAL-TV/The Associated Press ^ | September 8, 2008 | Shannon McCaffrey

[2ndDivisionVet]

ALPHARETTA, Ga.-Polishing off his strawberry-banana yogurt, Jacob Moore races to his keyboard with a whoop, picks his way through "Pop Goes the Weasel" and gives his mom a high five. This is the average stuff of childhood, and it has not come easily to the 8-year-old with Down syndrome.

For his mother, Heidi Moore, achieving average "is like climbing Mount Everest." The family has been clambering up with the help of therapists, 15 surgeries, prayer and a tight-knit community of parents whose children live with the disorder.

That network is abuzz with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s arrival on the national scene as Republican presidential candidate John McCain’s running mate. A little more than four months ago, Palin, 44, gave birth to a son, Trig, with the extra chromosome that causes Down syndrome.

Palin hoisted the sleepy-looking infant into her arms after delivering the biggest speech of her career before cheering delegates at the Republican convention and a television audience of 40 million.

In her address, she had a special message for families with special-needs children: "I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."

It was an electrifying moment for those parents and their advocates.

Parents of children with Down syndrome say they often feel misunderstood by those who question their decision to have a child with a disability. They said many people fail to realize that medical, educational and legislative advances have dramatically improved life for those born with Down syndrome.

And they hope Palin’s example will convince more parents that they, too, can handle the challenge of a Down syndrome child.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Must everything be about appropriations? Democrats always lay that trap. If you don't up the amount spent on X every year, you're a heartless conservative...

[DB]

15 surgeries???

[clee1]

Many Down’s children have to have surgery to correct limb and locomotion issues.

[republicangel]

I believe they sometimes have congenital heart abnormalities also that need to be corrected with surgery.

[jmaroneps37]

Everyday 40 teenagers abort their babies and 15 families end pregnancies carrying Down’s babies. It is just not possible that this wonderfully courageous family with its two strong women Bristol and Sarah and its strong manly father/husband Todd, has not inspired pregnant women around the country to save their babies.