Category Archive

I wrote a post some time ago about “this thing”. This thing that makes me feel unlike any other. I promised more and someday I will bring it, when the time is right. Also, I never took the time to thank all of my readers for your respectful comments and dialog, so thank you.

Today I write because there is something brewing that desperately needs your attention and if your heart is in line with mine your signature may help to make a world of difference.

The Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Act has been bouncing around since 2005 or so and has finally been backed by a Senate Committee and introduced. Studies are now showing that babies being diagnosed in utero with Down’s, Cerebral Palsy, Dwarfism and many other conditions are being aborted 90% of the time!

“The bipartisan bill would provide $5 million “to increase the provision of scientifically sound information and support services to patients receiving a positive test diagnosis for Down syndrome or other prenatally and postnally diagnosed conditions.”

The bill would also “(1) increase patient referrals to providers of key support services for women who have received a positive test diagnosis for Down syndrome, or other prenatally or postnatally diagnosed conditions, as well as to provide up-to-date,comprehensive information about life expectancy, development potential, and quality of life for a child born with Down syndrome or other prenatally diagnosed condition; (2) strengthen existing networks of support through a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention patient and provider outreach program; (3) improve available data by incorporating information directly revealed by prenatal or postnatal testing into existing State-based surveillance programs for birth defects and prenatally or postnally diagnosed conditions; and (4) ensure that patients receive up-to-date, scientific information about the accuracy of the test.””*

There is currently ZERO training within ACOG in regards to follow-up counseling if a prenatal test comes back positive for Down’s, meaning that in many cases the ONLY recommendation or option given by a woman’s medical professional is to abort the baby. Which, regardless of where you stand, I think we can all agree is wrong. Parents of People with Down’s Syndrome have created a petition to urge change and education in this realm. Their goal is 5,000 signatures and they currently have 1,750, so please head on over and sign away.

* excerpt from Townhall.com

Related Links:
National Association for Down’s Syndrome
World Down’s Syndrome Day
Gigi’s Playhouse

I know our weekends are usually our time to unwind. But sometimes it feels just as good to get out there and DO something. This weekend over 65,000 people will be displacing themselves to bring awareness to the crisis in Uganda. And On Sunday we will be attending a rally and candlelight vigil to call for full divestment from the genocide in Darfur.

“Darfur has been embroiled in a deadly conflict for over three years. At least 400,000 people have been killed; more than 2 million innocent civilians have been forced to flee their homes and now live in displaced-persons camps in Sudan or in refugee camps in neighboring Chad; and more than 3.5 million men, women, and children are completely reliant on international aid for survival. Not since the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has the world seen such a calculated campaign of displacement, starvation, rape, and mass slaughter.”

I don’t tell you this for a pat on the back or to bring acknowledgment to our meager attempts to help, but to encourage you, no to push you into opening your eyes to the atrocities happening while we idly stand by. We disassociate ourselves, but we can’t any longer. From AIDS, to starvation to genocide we have ignored the cries of Africa for far to long. Please help us. DO something.