I heard today a claim that in the United States seventy percent of prenatal diagnoses of the chromosome disorder I’ve been bestowed with result in a termination.
I don’t know if there is any basis to this claim, as I can’t find the figure in literature. However there seems to be a worry amongst parents of screened children that health professionals frequently provide incorrect information or exaggerated representations of the condition, prejudicing decisions to abort.
Despite negative experiences of growing up with this condition — in my case, undiagnosed until adulthood — those parents have my sympathy. We’re not sub-humans with severe disabilities or intellectual impairments. We just need targeted therapies and interventions to overcome the various developmental delays. With the benefit of an early diagnosis, those parents have every reason to hope for the best outcomes for their sons.
Though I have struggled with its effects and consequences throughout my life, I don’t think I have ever wished I was never born. The experiences of adolescence have certainly informed my entire way of life in adulthood. Not necessarily a bad thing, for I seem to be cherished by those closest to me. There are significant trials, that’s for sure. But nothing to warrant the termination of life itself. Give the boy a chance.
Last modified: 18 September 2022
