Okay...this is going to be another downer post of sorts. Sorry! I just had a conversation with a friend that opened my eyes to something else that is going on in our society. It's pretty pathetic and incredibly sad.
I'm taking a class called curricu.lum and instruct.ion for children with spec.ial need.s. One of the research papers I have to do is on a disabi.lity that I'm going to face as a teacher. Lord knows there are many. I was talking this over with a friend in class who happens to already teach children with disabi.ities. I mentioned researching Dow.ns Syn.drome. I have already seen children with Down.s in many of the classes where I have worked (not so much recently). This friend then says "Well, that one is not as common anymore since there is that test that pg women can do." What? I have heard about that test...but never really fully thought about the ramifications. So, a pg women finds out she's pg with a baby with Down.s and she has a choice to a.bort. Many do. Is it called "selecti.ve reduc.tion"? I've heard that term in relation at A.RT procedures...which is b.s. I haven't looked into it further..not sure I want too...but does that test show other disa.bilities? So, you mean..these children don't have a fighting chance at all? I know some animals kill their young that have disabil.ities (surviv.al of the fitte.st)...but is that what this society is resorting too? We need to pray girls. I know it's out there. Like I said earlier...pathetic.
If I get blessed with a pg...I won't have that test done. It won't make a difference...that baby is my baby...no matter what! This is not a choice.
On a positive note...I'm going to love this class (the texts and professor are awesome!). I have had fears of teaching children with disabi.ities (I'm humbled by my truth in saying that)...there's a lot involved but since the new trend is "blendi.ng" the classrooms..especially in pre.schools...I need to get on board and learn as much as I can so I can give those children the educatio.n they deserve and have a right too. AND I want to feel comfortable doing so.
No other news...my dh and I are successfully on a TTC break for the next few months so I can finish my schooling...especially studen.t teaching next fall. This is hard since when I see good cm I get hopeful (duh). Oh well. We've spent so much money and time on this new career path...we just want to finish. Notice I'm saying "we"? Yes, he's been so supportive of this career..and he's been working so hard to pay for it (no S.L's for us). If the Lord has other plans and we do get pg..that is fine too. It would be hard to finish with a baby...but like I told my dh "Let's cross that bridge IF we come to it.". I have enough to think about now. I'm not sure if there will ever be a good time once I'm finished with my certific.ation and master.s degree...heck..I want to teach. I do trust in God's plan and I need to leave that up to Him. He is all good and loving.
I'm praying for everyone!
Oh..I watched a short dv.d on St. Gianna. what an incredible woman! I'm going to start a novena to St. Gianna. I just finished one to my 2010 saint..well..he's not a saint yet...his name is Bl. Stanislaus Papcynski. Please pray for him so he can be cannonized. He devoted his life to our precious mother,Mary. I'll write more about him on another upcoming post.
I have heard of these stories with women faced with the decision and then delivering a healthy baby.
ReplyDeleteThe moment we put all of our trust in the liberal abortionist doctor, is the moment we all pay.
An abortion is an abortion is an abortion.
Have you looked into adopting the orphans from haiti that are local? I just called my catholic charities and they are looking into it for me. You are already ahead of the game with a completed homestudy.
That's so sad about the number of Down's syndrome babies aborted. The main testing that they do is the anatomy scan and blood work which aren't invasive. Even though I'd never abort, I'd get the testing done (especially as I get older) since I'd want to have plans in place for the special care needed, so I'd wouldn't discount testing completely.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your classes.
It is an amniocentesis and yes, it checks for many, many defects.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree that it is horrible to terminate a pregnancy for such a reason.
But, being the devil’s advocate that I am, I have to say that not all women who have this test do so with the intention to abort if there is an abnormality. In a lot of cases, people choose to do so that in the event your baby does have a problem, the specialist care that is needed will be immediate and available in the OR the minute the baby is born. It can also tests to see if a baby’s lungs are developed in the event you are going to have an early birth and RH factors (which would be an issue with me given that my baby would have a 50% chance of having a different blood type than me). Just sayin’ – many reasons – and I don’t want there to be an assumption that a mom who has the test is going to abort if she doesn’t get the all clear. An acquaintance at my church had it done and learned her child had trisomy 18 (I think), meaning that the child would not make it to delivery and would not survive outside the womb. She did not abort. She cherished the time she had left with her child in her womb – all the time knowing she would never hold a live baby in her arms. She eventually had a stillbirth, a Catholic memorial service, and I see a Mass dedicated to their daughter every on the anniversary. I tell you this story just to give you hope that even in the most dire circumstances & amnio outcomes, some people do make the right choice. But I wholeheartedly agree that this is an issue that needs our prayers.
Also - You sound so excited about the class. I know it will be good. I'm so happy you "and your husband" are so well into your new career path.
ReplyDeleteSew: I just heard about the Hai.ti infant fostercare need...I will have to discuss with my dh. I feel it's a beautiful way to help those children...we'll pray about it.
ReplyDeleteAnd by no means did I mean "all" women do abort their babies who have disabilities...gosh no! It's that there is that "option"..which I don't mean to be taken lightly. I agree.. the test is a great way to get prepared for a baby with disabilities (as much as one can)..and at my age...I know the dr's would recommend it. But for me and for many other's...it doesn't matter. A baby is a baby...and God will be there to help us raise our children..disabilities or not.
Ann: what a touching story. Thanks for sharing. I have read blogs of women choosing to have their babies knowing the baby wasn't going to make it. What a testimony of strength. Wow! No one knows what we'll be faced with on our journeys of life.
There are more than one test that can abnormalities can show up on. I asked them if there were things on these test I could do anything about if I found out early, such as lungs, and they say no. They test for genetic disorders, etc. Primarily people use as a choice to terminate or prepare for a child with a severe disability. The most horrific thing I discovered with my research was HOW OFTEN THEY ARE WRONG! They tell people, the baby may have this. Or it may not. And people are so scared of the possibility, without knowing how beautiful these children can be and without any really knowledge or counseling from the other perspective, they often do terminate. Horrible. These children are beautiful, full of life, happy! They teach us about how we should all be! We would all be better off if we had someone like this in our lives!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your paper and your class. Sounds familiar! :)
If you want to see amazing pro life families, to lift you up, google Alexandria's House. These families know their children are terminal and still carry them to term. Their stories are AMAZING.
I should have read other's comments in more detail before posting-some of this is repeat, sorry about that!
ReplyDeleteYes, in U/S I'm learning about all the little "hotspots" we check to rule out all kinds of disabilities/defects. Nuchal translucency being the biggest one for Down's, at 12 wks. But as my mentor has been teaching me (and what he tells all his patients) even a thick nuchal translucency doesn't mean definitively D.S... the umbilical cord (1 example) could be wrapped around the neck, causing the portion of the NT to puff up above it.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there are blood tests that precede an actual amnio which apparently "alert" the obs to certain risks (and hence, steer their patient toward the amnio).
But the sad truth is, as you stated, D.S. is not around nearly as much these days... and one very BIG reason why is because more moms "know" about it beforehand and choose to abort.
Very, very sad.
On a brighter note, I'm glad your classes are going so well and that you are learning a lot! I'm praying that your patron "Saint" become canonized - he sounds really amazing!
Very sad indeed. I don't know what I would choose to do if I were blessed to carry a child to that point where testing was an option (no matter what though...abortion would not be an option). Would I want to know for the sake of being prepared when the baby was born, or would I not want to know because I would be worried about it the whole rest of the pregnancy? Tough questions...but hopefully, I will get a chance to pray and discern it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment on my post. Another Northern IL gal! Your post got my attention because I have a friend who just had this "pre" test done for D.S. (a blood test, I guess) and it did not show a "risk" of d.s., but if it had she would have had the u/s just to be prepared. But, I still think the temptation is there for women and, as we know, leads to many abortions. Horrific. And how many of those are right, like Wheelbarrow Rider said. So sad. Best of luck to you in your class! The world needs more like you!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to check on you. Hope you are just busy, but know that I was thinking about you and said a prayer specifically for you today.
ReplyDeleteMy sister in law had routine pre-natal testing done and they told her the baby had a heart-defect and probably wouldn't make it. They suggested abortion. She told them all where they could go with that suggestion and that she was keeping her baby. Long story short, my goddaughter/niece was born PERFECTLY healthy. A beautiful young lady that would have never been born if my sister-in-law had trusted the "facts". On another note, make sure to watch for Tim Tebow's Pro-Life ad during the Superbowl. His mom had amoebic dysentery which is a leading cause of death in the Philippines (where they were doing mission work) and the doctor recommended an aortion. Of course the family rejected the idea...and now there story is scheduled to be aired during the Superbowl! You can read more at: http://www.nrlc.org/News_and_Views/Jan10/nv012610.html Blessings all!
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