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.
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.
