The Memory Keeper's Daughter: Down Syndrome

The National Association for Down Syndrome is governed much like a traditional corporation, with a board of directors and staff members, although it is a nonprofit. "NADS is the oldest organization in the country serving individuals with Down syndrome and their families. It was founded in Chicago in 1961 by parents who chose to go against medical advice and raised their children with Down syndrome at home" (About NADS, 2012, NADS). From its inception, NADS was designed to provide support for parents of children with Down syndrome and their offspring. Its key stakeholders are parents and children, and it strives to educate the larger community about the disorder and to cultivate community resources to better enable parents to raise their children in a supportive and loving environment that caters to the children's special needs. Information-gathering and dissemination, support, and advocacy on a national and local level are all part of the organizations' mission.

In Kim Edward’s “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter”, the complexities of life are captured. “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” is the story of a set of twins live parallel lives because of the mistake of their father. During the development of the plot, two main conflicts are introduced: man v. man for David Henry and man v. environment for Caroline Gill.

While wrongful birth does not just represent children with down syndrome it represents all kinds of birth problems children are born with. A couple won a $4.5 million in a lawsuit for wrongful birth. The parents claimed “They would have never brought their son Bryan into the world if they had known about his horrific disabilities” (Hallowell, 2011). The parents son was born with only three limbs, no arms and one leg; however, if Dr. Marie Morel and technicians at OB/GYN specialists of the Palm Beaches did properly administered two ultrasounds and seen he was missing three limbs the parents would have terminated the pregnancy (Howell, 2011). The parents “understandably upset that they had no warning about the

When David was little, his sister died due to a heart defect. When their daughter Phoebe, an unexpected twin was born, David noticed she was born with this defect also known as down syndrome. He then gave the baby to Caroline Gill his co-worker to bring to a house where they would take care of her. When his wife woke up he said “I am so sorry. Our little daughter died as she was born.” (Edwards 20) He did this to protect his wife because he feared that his daughter would pass away at a young age. He thought that if she passed so soon in life it would crush his wife, just like it crushed his mother. Little did he know it would break her heart more, knowing she could have had another child. She was depressed for a long time, which slowly started pushing David and her apart.

Due to advances in medical technology, individuals with Down syndrome are living longer than ever before. In 1910, children with Down syndrome were expected to survive to age nine. With the discovery of antibiotics, the average survival age increased to 19 or 20. Now, with recent advancements in clinical treatment, most particularly corrective heart surgeries, as many

A mental Illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Downs syndrome is a congenital disorder arising from a chromosome defect, causing intellectual impairment and physical abnormalities including short stature and a broad facial profile. It arises from a defect involving chromosome 21. Down syndrome is random and it can affect anyone. There is no cure and no precautionary steps. Down syndrome affects millions of people each year. With research we can find new ways to treat this disease and help the ones who are affected.

Many people argue on whether abortion should really be classed as mortality, especially in Down syndrome babies, but why do people think this? Some say that women should have the right to control their own body as an individual but others argue that abortion should not be aloud. Iceland is close to being the first country where no one is born with Down syndrome as 85% of women choose to abort when tests indicate downs. 74% of the population say that people with Down syndrome aren't human, mainly on the fact that they have an extra chromosome. Everyone should have the same rights as each other, just because you have a mental problem, doesn't mean that they shouldn't be aloud children of their own. Many other people say that people with down syndrome can’t have a normal life as they can’t reproduce but this isn't true. They may not be able to reproduce as well as everyone else but that doesn't mean that they can't do it. But the question is, why does so much discourse surround people with down syndrome?

When I was little, I didn't think that my cousin Heather was any different than me. We played together, acted out the characters of our favorite movies and television shows, and talked like we've been best friends forever. At the time I was around the age seven, Heather was eight. We, along with our other cousins, were at our grandparent's house in Houston, Minnesota, waiting anxiously for supper so we could open Christmas presents afterwards.

More often than not, children diagnosed with Down syndrome get viewed as lesser of a human being than an average person. Why is that? Is it because of their looks or IQ? Is appearing different really all that different? By taking a look into what Down syndrome is, how it affects them and those around them, and how it can be treated will prove they have the potential to do more than an average person.

In a society where people are aborting babies with a chance of having a disability it is difficult to find what is morally right. Down Syndrome is one of the most common genetic conditions. It causes children to learn their first language and gross motor skills slower and they will grow at a slower rate, but this can change from person to person with some growing and learning faster than others. Doctors and the majority of people suggest children with Down Syndrome will not have a good life and imply that is irresponsible to give birth to such a child. Aborting children with Down Syndrome is an action that cannot be justified by Christian morals.

Becoming a parent for the first time is often frightening, no parent wants his or her child to be sick, disabled, or harmed in any way. It is not an experience anyone expects to have, it is a journey that is unplanned. Heather is the mother of a child diagnosed with Down syndrome. Heather shared her story, along with the everyday struggles she faces, in a personal interview about her child’s diagnosis of Down syndrome. Though she may face many struggles, she has found hope throughout different therapeutic interventions. Occupational therapy has played a key role in Kaleb’s everyday performance.

mother could have a Down Syndrome baby even though there was never any sign of

It was September of 2015. My mother had a surprise for us, and it was our job to guess what the surprise was. It was four months from Christmas, why couldn't she wait to give it to us then? I racked my brain looking for a reasonable answer, but I couldn't find one. The surprise might be a new toy, but she would have saved it for Christmas. Maybe a dog, but we already had three, and we definitely didn't need another one. Then, out of nowhere the idea popped into my head. I knew what the surprise was!

I believe in my voice. I know that this may come off as conceited. There is a popular adage that goes, “You never know what you have until you lose it.” I have come to appreciate a different interpretation. “You always know what you have, you just never think you’d lose it.” I would like to use it to further my point.

People with Down syndrome bring happiness to others as they are completely innocent. Most people do not want this factor to leave their lives. Others believe if Down syndrome is cured, than they will lose their jobs for teaching them, taking care of them, etc. The fact is that, people with Down syndrome are special in the world in many