[A CA Guy]

Yeah, on some level we were all lucky to have had mothers who could have babies and did have healthy ones.

Not long ago people thought it was OK to smoke while pregnant, maybe earlier than that it could have been considered OK to drink. Knowledge suggests at times we adjust behaviors currently compared to the past.

Downs is one issue.

[MamaB]

I have know 4 Down’s babies and every one was a blessing to their parents. My oldest nephew who is nearly 3 years younger than I was born to a first time mom with a birth defect. His right leg was turned backwards from the knee down. He had to have it amputated when he was a toddler. That did not stop him from doing what my younger sister and I were doing. We never, ever let him get away with doing anything wrong just because he had a handicap.

When he was old enough he would go to the swimming pool, take off his leg and jump in. He could not play football but he was the water boy or whatever they needed him to do. He is retired now and is a house husband and loves it. He does all the housework, cooking, etc and even cans fruit.

Everyone accepted him for the person he was and that was that.