The Job of a Lifetime

Roughly 24 years ago the universe looked over my resume, took into account my previous experience, my qualifications, and my goals and gave me a job that I was totally – I mean utterly – unqualified for. Parent. And as an added bonus and complete surprise, the universe also immediately promoted me, as a show of good faith, to the role of special needs parent. The application process was cleverly disguised, I won’t bore you with those details but the final result was a new lifelong job with very few personal days, occasional opportunities for “working” vacations, and joyful benefits beyond what I ever expected.

From the Outside, it didn’t look good.

At the time of my son’s birth I was an unemployed, single, barely-in-college student and although my pregnancy came as a shock, my father stood by me, almost singularly, those twenty-one plus years ago. I recently confronted him with the question, “If you knew my unborn child had Down syndrome, would you have pressured me to abort?”

“Who you were at that time?” He paused, “And who I was? Yes.” He was solemn in his honest reflection. Then his expression changed. “Can you imagine?” he exclaimed, the smile bursting from his face, “What a mistake.”

I can tell you over the last few years I’ve put a lot of thought into this question and answer because of the new T21 prenatal testing that gives a diagnosis of Down syndrome and other trisomies at about 10 weeks via a blood test. What does this mean for the future? I mean even within the next 20 years?  Down syndrome and eugenics, is this the last generation? Quite possibly, a few years ago it was reported that Denmark, for example, is on track to be “Down syndrome free” by 2030.

When I read this I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach.

For the record, this is not a pro-choice/pro-life argument. I’m talking to a very specific group of people – Women who want a child and the healthcare providers who serve them. Also I am not opposed to genetic testing. I’m opposed to the one-sided conversation that so often follows.  When I read the quote that Denmark will be Down syndrome free, I spent weeks venting on paper and compiling notes, research and quotes, and then released the essay “Arguing Eugenics: a case for changing the world” on Kindle.  It is for sale at $1.25, however – from March 21 to March 23 it is FREE.

Free I tell you!

So please – click on the link and download “Arguing Eugenics” for your reader. Also, please share the links and if you are so inclined, review it on Amazon.