Acceptance and a cure

Disclaimer:  This post is a rant.  Every one's entitled to one every now and then, right?  I am all for research that could help stop early onset Alzheimer's in our kids, treatment that could promote a longer, healthier life, or increase cognitive functioning.  I am in no way against those.  So in Emergency Broadcast Services style: 

This is a rant.  This is simply a rant.

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My daughter has a disability. She will have it the rest of her life. It will affect her and make challenges for her for the rest of her life. It will never go away. And while there was a time when that realization would have brought me to tears, it doesn't any more. Today, my fear is people. That's right, people.

Have you ever read the comments on an article that has anything to do with Down syndrome. I wouldn't recommend it, and I try not to. But if you do, you will no doubt read comment after comment about how my child is a drain to society, a burden to her family, ugly, not smart, not worthy of life, a problem that should have been taken care of when I was pregnant, and worse. But there are also kind comments. Comments about how people with Down syndrome are blessings, beautiful, sweet, and so on. And while I do appreciate those who offer those kind words, I also wonder how much farther than that does it go. Does their acceptance end at "Aww, she's cute." Would that same person fight for my child to be included in their child's classroom? Would they encourage their child to invite mine to their party? Do they ever go out of their way to befriend someone with an intellectual disability? Do they ever attempt to engage in in a conversation with someone like my child? Most cases, I would say no, they don't. Their acceptance is from afar. And I know, because my acceptance was in that place before Kamdyn was born.



Then, when I read things about a cure for Down syndrome, the message that screams to me is: your child is a mistake. Your child is a problem we must fix. Your child is less. I mean, look at the autism and vaccine debate. This (unproven) theory of vaccines causing autism has been on the scene for years, and yet, here we are years later, with no cure. In fact, the number of children being diagnosed with autism is not even decreasing despite the hysteria of DO NOT VACCINATE. So when I read one of the many articles floating around on this subject, what it says to me is: these kids are mistakes. These kids are a problem that needs to be fixed. These kids are less than.

And that's the world we live in. So I haven't put too much concern into this whole "cure for Down syndrome" thing. First of all, I'm a skeptic, so I'll believe when I see it, which (even if it ever does happen) probably won't be in my life time. And secondly, I resent it. I resent that my child needs a cure. I resent that people think she needs a cure. I don't think she does.



Ok, rant over. 

I finally broke down and got on Instagram.  And I must say, I love it.  I love seeing every one's pictures and posting our own.  So if you're on Instagram too, check us out under lifeisbeautifulblog.  Let me know you're following from the blog, and I'll follow you back.