Comments on: Shifting the Dominant Culture’s Interpretation of Our Experience http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/shifting-the-dominant-cultures-interpretation-of-our-experience/ Art and Words about Community, Interdependence, & Social Justice Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:37:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Marie http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/2008/03/31/shifting-the-dominant-cultures-interpretation-of-our-experience/#comment-27 Marie Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:29:58 +0000 http://candeebasford.wordpress.com/?p=61#comment-27 Candee I read, StopThinkAutism, and the comment the professor made, "In my opinion, the moral thing for older mothers to do is to have amniocentesis, as soon during pregnancy as is safe for the fetus, test whether placental cells have a third chromosome #21, and abort the fetus if it does," he said, according to a Raleigh news and Observer report.He told the newspaper he has no apologies for the remark. When I was pregnant for my daughter, Andrea, I was told she was going to have all sorts of genetic issues. My test came back questionable, I am older, I had an amniocentesis, but wasn't sure what was "wrong" with her. We finally found out she didn't have Down's Syndrome, so the doctors made me believe she had something much worse that would kill her minutes after birth. They urged me to have an abortion many times and finally Rick and I both told them to stop it. The doctor was actually upset at me for not listening. Hello? I thought it was my choice. I'm sure having 6 living children convinced the doctor that I had plenty of kids and what is one more or one lost? It mattered to me, to Rick, and to God. This article hit home because I have worked with people who have Down Syndrome and they are the MOST BEAUTIFUL HEARTED people in the world. I worked with Theresa a client of MRDD and she melted my heart. She was non-verbal but we had a connection. I understood her and she understood me. I've had the pleasure of attending college with your Katie and she is so bright, wonderful and smart. So this professor's comment that, "I know somebody who had a child like this, and it ruined their life," he said. How was their life ruined??? Differently-abled adults does not equal a ruined life. I wanna get up on a soap box when I hear these kind of callous comments. It is so easy for many people to chose to kill someone because they don't understand them. Andrea didn't have Down's Syndrome but she has Lipomyelomeningocele or "split spine" better known as Spina Bifida. You know her a little bit, Candee, and to see how well she is doing is a blessing. We are blessed to have her and so many times I've read where you say Katie is a light. That is how I often describe Andrea. She is special and people are drawn to her for unknown reasons. She has defied a lot of odds and I'm going to soak that up as long as I can. Candee I read, StopThinkAutism, and the comment the professor made, “In my opinion, the moral thing for older mothers to do is to have amniocentesis, as soon during pregnancy as is safe for the fetus, test whether placental cells have a third chromosome #21, and abort the fetus if it does,” he said, according to a Raleigh news and Observer report.He told the newspaper he has no apologies for the remark.

When I was pregnant for my daughter, Andrea, I was told she was going to have all sorts of genetic issues. My test came back questionable, I am older, I had an amniocentesis, but wasn’t sure what was “wrong” with her. We finally found out she didn’t have Down’s Syndrome, so the doctors made me believe she had something much worse that would kill her minutes after birth. They urged me to have an abortion many times and finally Rick and I both told them to stop it. The doctor was actually upset at me for not listening. Hello? I thought it was my choice. I’m sure having 6 living children convinced the doctor that I had plenty of kids and what is one more or one lost?

It mattered to me, to Rick, and to God. This article hit home because I have worked with people who have Down Syndrome and they are the MOST BEAUTIFUL HEARTED people in the world. I worked with Theresa a client of MRDD and she melted my heart. She was non-verbal but we had a connection. I understood her and she understood me.

I’ve had the pleasure of attending college with your Katie and she is so bright, wonderful and smart. So this professor’s comment that, “I know somebody who had a child like this, and it ruined their life,” he said. How was their life ruined??? Differently-abled adults does not equal a ruined life. I wanna get up on a soap box when I hear these kind of callous comments. It is so easy for many people to chose to kill someone because they don’t understand them.

Andrea didn’t have Down’s Syndrome but she has Lipomyelomeningocele or “split spine” better known as Spina Bifida. You know her a little bit, Candee, and to see how well she is doing is a blessing. We are blessed to have her and so many times I’ve read where you say Katie is a light. That is how I often describe Andrea. She is special and people are drawn to her for unknown reasons. She has defied a lot of odds and I’m going to soak that up as long as I can.

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