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People around the world are talking about a possible cure for Downs Syndrome. They're
also discussing the value of a human life. This is the CitizenLink Report. Hi, I'm Stuart
Shepard along with Carrie Gordon Earll who follows the life issue for Focus on The Family.
Hi, Carrie.
Hi Stuart,
There's some research out that suggests we may be close to possibly therapies, or treatments,
or perhaps even a cure for Downs Syndrome. And that takes us right to the life issue.
You know it really does because Downs Syndrome is a perfect example of we all being made
in the image of God. We're all created in His image and we are human beings, we're not
human doings. And our value as humans is not based on how productive we are, how good looking
we are, what kind of car we drive -- any of the types of measures that the world tends
to put upon us. So when we talk about Downs Syndrome it's a wonderful opportunity to
talk about God's design for humanity in a fallen world isn't perfect, but every life
from fertilization to natural death is sacred.
Let's join in the discussion that people are having all over. First, what is Downs Syndrome
when you get right down to the science of it?
Well I think probably everyone has interacted with or has known someone with Downs Syndrome and generally
people are born with two sets of 23 chromosomes for a total of 46. In essence with Downs Syndrome
people are both with three sets of one chromosomes and that's usually chromosome 21 -- so they have
an extra chromosome for a total of 47. There are quite a few people that are born with
this condition and about 250,000 in the US. About 7,000 babies each year are born with
Downs Syndrome and the severity of the condition can vary from having cognitive delays and
heart defects and a shortened life span for some and others will live a long life and
will be mainstream, so there's quite a variety there.
Now the headlines suggest we may be close to a cure. Is that a stretch?
It's a bit of a stretch but there is some good news and that is that the University
of Massachusetts Medical School has released a study where they have found a way to insert
a gene into that extra chromosome in essence silencing it. So it's a really interesting
approach here and it could lead to treatments. It's unlikely it is going to lead to a cure
because it would have to affect conception in that way and they aren't saying that's
possible but they're very excited. This is a significant discovery for them because it
helps them better understand how that extra chromosome operates. And with that there is
the potential for treatments and therapies that had not even been imagined before for
Downs Syndrome.
Now for years now we've been in an era where when someone's pregnant there's a test that's
taken and the Doctor can say your child has Downs Syndrome -- your preborn baby has this
condition. How do you think this will impact decisions that are made based on that news?
Well a diagnosis of Downs Syndrome, which is different than screening, if you're diagnosed,
the baby with Downs Syndrome, that's a life changing word to those parents. And it can
be very frightening because it's the fear of the unknown. And there are some women that
forgo prenatal screening and testing because for them abortion is just not an issue. Unfortunately
most of the diagnoses of Downs Syndrome end up being a death sentence for that pre-born
baby because more than 80% of women, according to studies, abort when they find out they
have been diagnosed with a Downs Syndrome pregnancy. So in that case the ability to
diagnose leads to the death of an innocent. But that's where were optimistic about this
research because this is the type of information that I think can be very helpful and hopeful
to parents that have received that kind of diagnosis. They need to have good information.
And you know the Doctor that does the diagnostic test might not have the latest and most accurate
information about these types of studies so we encourage parents to get as much information
as they can. Also talk to families that are raising Downs Syndrome children because they'll
be able to help you walk through some of those fears and really have good information so
you can make a life affirming decision.
Now there's a story out of Virginia that illustrates in real life how many families are ready to
open their arms to a child with Downs Syndrome.
This was a fascinating post on many of our Facebooks in the last couple of weeks and
this was a church in Virginia that posted a story. They had received a call from an
adoption agency trying to help a couple. A married couple had been diagnosed -- their
baby with Downs Syndrome and they did not want to parent the baby. And so the word went
out to this adoption agency well unless we find a home we are going to abort this pregnancy.
Well this Virginia church posted that on their Facebook. Within a very short amount of time
they had more than 900 contacts of people with the message yes, I will take that baby.
Including mothers who were already parenting Downs Syndrome children who were willing to
adopt. Plus they wanted to talk to the birth family and say let me tell ya', what a blessing
this child is to us and everyone else so that was a happy ending to that story. They were
able to find an adoptive family and as far as we know that baby is being born into that home.
Alright. Carrie, thank you for your insights and for keeping track of all this.
Thanks, Stuart.
And thank you for watching. We always appreciate hearing from you. Let us know what you think.
You can send us your questions, your comments, your criticisms. We're open to all of that.
You may write us at Mail@CitizenLink dot com. And pray for families around the world as
they have these conversations about the value of a human life and particularly what to do
that in the event that during a pregnancy there's a diagnosis of Downs Syndrome.
Pray for those families as they make those decisions and pray they make a life affirming choice.
And remember, Stand Tall and Be Heard!