Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion Letters

A child loved by all

byEmilie Ng
6 November 2014
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

HAVING just read your story on Down Syndrome, I feel I could cry (CL October 26).

Not for the children, but for the parents who will never know the absolute joy they have missed out on.

We were privileged to have our son born in 1964 with Down Syndrome.

The first time we knew that there was a problem was when he developed a severe cold at seven weeks old.

We saw a specialist who after some weeks of appointments, broke the news to us of his suppositions.

His advice was to put him into an institution, so that if we were to have more children it would not affect them.

My reply to that was “over my dead body”.

We were referred to a doctor in Brisbane, who fortunately had a different outlook.

He said “take him home and give him all the love and attention you can spare”.

That was when we said a silent prayer that we had found some one who cared, not only for us but for another human being.

Related Stories

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Our son is now 50 years old.

Not only has he Down Syndrome, but he was born with severe sight problems.

No sight in his left eye and only a 6/24th in his right eye, which sadly has gotten worse over the years, but there is nothing that can be done for this problem he has.

We also have two marvellous daughters.

One born 12 months and a day after our son, the other almost four years later.

They have been absolutely great with him.

In fact, I feel it has taught us all to be more patient, take life as it comes, and care for our fellow human beings.

God help anyone who would belittle their brother, he is not only loved by all of us but seems to attract hugs from a lot of women who think he is just great.

I might add that he loves being cuddled too, even if he is 50 years old.

I just hope that my letter may make a difference to the thinking of some people who would consider a termination.

How do they know what rewards a child with Down Syndrome can bring?

We didn’t, but I can recommend it – love is what it takes, plus patience.

The other thing is we treated our son as a child with a handicap, not a handicapped child.

This is a different way of looking at it and I can assure you it makes a difference.

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Leading Catholic teachers win state awards

Next Post

Syria’s war is part of humanitarian crisis

Emilie Ng

Emilie Ng is a Brisbane-based journalist for The Catholic Leader.

Related Posts

News

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

23 May 2022
Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition
QLD

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Next Post
Syria

Syria's war is part of humanitarian crisis

Shroud of Turin

Pope will visit Shroud of Turin, commemorate birth of St John Bosco

Pakistani protest

Church protests beating deaths of Christian couple accused of blasphemy

Popular News

  • Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    Here are the stories of 10 new saints being canonised this Sunday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fr Liam receives bravery medal after shark attack rescue

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

News

From a humble start Albanese is sworn in as new prime minister

by Mark Bowling
23 May 2022
0

ANTHONY Albanese, a self-described cultural Catholic, has been sworn in as Australia’s 31st prime minister today, after...

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping