From Dr. Al Mohler's blog -
A little boy with an extra chromosome was born on April 18. His name is Trig Paxson Van Palin and his new home is the Alaska Governor's Mansion in Juneau. His mom is Governor Sarah Palin, who along with her husband Todd, has welcomed Trig as their second son and fifth child.
Governor Palin has already made a mark on the political scene. A high school basketball star and beauty queen, she was elected Alaska's governor in 2006. She is often mentioned as a potential running mate for Sen. John McCain. The Palins' other children include Track, their oldest son, who now serves in the U.S. Army. They also have three daughters, Bristol, Willow, and Piper.
Trig made news long before he was born, as Alaska's citizens learned that their governor was pregnant. Then, for the Palins, the story got more complicated.
This past December, Sarah Palin was told that her baby was likely to have Down syndrome -- just one extra chromosome.
As the Associated Press reports:
The doctor's announcement in December, when Palin was four months pregnant, presented her with a possible life- and career-changing development.
"I've never had problems with my other pregnancies, so I was shocked," said Palin.
"It took a while to open up the book that the doctor gave me about children with Down syndrome, and a while to log on to the Web site and start reading facts about the situation."
When he was told, Todd Palin quickly said, "We shouldn't be asking, 'Why us?' We should be saying, 'Well, why not us?'"
The Palins never considered aborting the baby. That means that Trig Palin is now is a very rare group of very special children, because it is now believed that the vast majority of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome before birth are being aborted.
Modern diagnostic tests are driving a "search and destroy mission" to eliminate babies judged to be inferior, disabled, or deformed. Some experts now believe that up to 90 percent of all pregnancies diagnosed as having a likelihood of Down syndrome end in abortion.
Back in 2005, ethicist George Neumayr commented: "Each year in America fewer and fewer disabled infants are born. The reason is eugenic abortion. Doctors and their patients use prenatal technology to screen unborn children for disabilities, then they use that information to abort a high percentage of them. Without much scrutiny or debate, a eugenics designed to weed out the disabled has become commonplace."
The Palins would not even consider aborting their baby. "We've both been very vocal about being pro-life," Governor Palin said. "We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential."
She loves her baby boy and is proud of him. "I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection," Palin told the Associated Press. "Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?"
Some ethicists now go so far as to argue for a "duty" to abort a baby with a Down diagnosis. This is an assault upon the dignity of every human being. The fact that so few Down syndrome babies now make it to birth is a sign that America is making its own pact with the Culture of Death.
Trig Paxson Van Palin has an extra chromosome, two proud and loving parents, four very happy siblings, and he will bring his own joy to untold numbers of lives.
He will face some unique challenges, but he has a loving family who will face those with him. They will learn together the wonder and beauty of a Down syndrome child and will learn to see the glory of God in his trusting face.
Mothers Day 2008 is certain to be a special day in the Alaska Governor's Mansion. What an unspeakable tragedy that so many other homes will have aborted that joy.
Welcome to the world, Trig Paxson Van Palin. Your very existence defies the Culture of Death and gives us all hope.
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5 comments:
as the mother of a child with Down syndrome I would like to congratulate the governor and her family on the birth of her new baby. The road may not always be easy, but the rewards will be greater than ever imagined.
Our daughter has definietly influenced our family for the good. My eldest daughter will attend college in the fall to become a speech therapist!
things happen for a reason and this child was placed in the care of the family perhaps to publicy declare how beautiful and worthy our children are and that they have a place in society. to me our children are the "normal" ones. Pure love and pure innocence as God intended us to be and we so-called "normal" people are actually the developmentally delayed. Just think, if the world were run by people with DS it would be a world of tolerance, pure love and innocence, compassion, and happy just to be alive. God bless the Palin family
Thanks for sharing this :-)
Helene - Thanks for stopping by.
What is normal? You perception is right on. I know of at least three DS folks at my church. They are always joyful and loving and make everyone around them smile.
The norm now is to abort at the first sign of 'trouble' whether it's DS or any other condition that we decide is unworthy of life.
I remember when my wife was last pregnant over 8 years ago now. After one visit to the doctor she advised us to have an amnio done (because of our age) to determine if the child might have DS. We told her almost in unison that there will be no test done for that. We told her that it won't matter to us if the child has DS or any other condition, we were going to have the baby. The doctor was firmly against our 'choice' of not having the amnio done.
God bless you and your family Helene!
Rhea - Thanks for stopping by and your welcome!
From the very first Dr.'s appointment for my last pregnancy, I was told that there was "something wrong". At first they couldn't find my son on the ultasound, so he didn't exist and I should have a D&C. I did not. Then, several weeks later, his yolk sac was irregularly shaped and he wasn't viable, so I should have a D&C. I did not. Then I started spotting and I was told I was having a miscarriage and should have a D&C. I did not. I got a new doctor. At sixteen weeks I was told that my son tested positive for Down Syndrome and Spina Bifida. I was told I needed an amnio to verify. When I informed my doctor that I didn't need verification (amnio can cause miscarriage in up to 5% of pregnancies)he ordered special high resolution ultra sounds, which are not dangerous. My son was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, but no Spina Bifida (but without absolute certainty). I don't believe in "theraputic" abortion, or any other kind. My son is my son, no matter what. A baby is a gift, a treasure, and not disposable. The rest of my pregnancy was spent on bedrest due to premature labor and near liver failure. My son was born almost 7 years ago, and he's beautiful, sweet, loving, and one of the smartest children in his class. Did I forget to mention that he does NOT have Down Syndrome? The tests were wrong, my son is perfect. I wonder how many "theraputic abortions" are performed each year on perfectly normal children. But then again, we're all perfectly normal in God's eyes.
Palin is a sick attempt of the right wing to pull america back to McCain. Many of us are mothers of disabled children. I have a nonverbal autistic son who is denied public school in Colorado. A matter of fact the deep south and midwest schools always violate IDEA violations. Many so called christians here tell me my son belongs in an institution. No people Palin is a sick attempt by the right wing to keep the executive branch and abortion debate alive. Shame on them for faking they care about disabled children and using this newborn baby boy in this manner.
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