62

"It is a hell of a thing to take on" Biddy Morris said as she sipped her tea. "After all … taking on a DS child in the first place knowing their life expectancy alone… so sad."

"Yes. Ton's murmur is still there… he is still at risk, the lovely Doctor Harper checks him regularly but still … there are risks." Another agreed "The life expectancy of people with Down syndrome increased dramatically between 1960 and 2007. In 1960, on average, persons with Down syndrome lived to be about 10 years old. In 2007, on average, persons with Down syndrome lived to be about 47 years old."

"Compared to children without Down syndrome, children with Down syndrome are at higher risk for:

Hearing loss (up to 75% may be affected)

Obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where a person's breathing temporarily stops while asleep (between 50 -75%)

Ear infections (between 50 -70% may be affected)

Eye diseases, like cataracts (up to 60%)

Eye issues requiring glasses (50%)

Heart defects present at birth (50%)

Intestinal blockage at birth requiring surgery (12%)

Hip dislocation (when the thigh bone slips out of the hip socket) (6%)

Thyroid disease (a problem with metabolism) (4-18%)

Anemia (red blood cells can't carry enough oxygen to the body) (3%)

Iron deficiency anemia (red blood cells don't have enough iron to carry oxygen to the body) (10%)

Leukemia (1%) in infancy or early childhood

Hirschsprung disease (an illness of the gut that can cause constipation)

I just look at these and feel so … I don't know. Ton is such a lovely and giving little man but … to know when he was born that he would be a lifelong commitment and that life would be shortened… that must have been heart rendering for his parents. Then to die and Ianto have to step up … I still cannot imagine being that fearless. I am afraid I would not be able to take on such heartache."

"I guess they are lucky he is only a mild case, he is so clever otherwise. I know some of those we have seen around here are more … well … I hate to say the word… damaged." One of the hissed and the others stopped their knitting to glare at her like she had just called one of them a witch in public.

"Monica, you take that back! The gods try to never give us more than we can handle but even they can make mistakes and those of us that can live with those little oopses … do. There is no shame in those who could not face it, after all … like a spina bifida baby or any other disease or affliction … having a baby is about more than their own life… it is about the lives of everyone. I am just glad Ton fills ours with joy."

Monica nodded knowing she was forgiven as they all thought the same thing ... more than one of them in this very room having given up such a little spark on the doctor's advice. Seeing DS children around made them remember their own abortions and they all knew they were lucky to have this chance to enjoy them and not have to be the one to care for them as their parents do. No shame in that, no …. Not everyone is set out to devote their life to a child like that.

Kudos to those that can and blessings to those who knew when to make the hard choices either way. The Gods are not always kind and some choices are never right no matter which way they fall. Mother Nature is a Bitch.

They continued to create little woolen things for the incoming baby, all wondering the one thing they would NOT say to loud. Would this baby be DS too?