Mom of Baby With Down Syndrome Campaigns to Stop Abortions on Them: “They Benefit Our Lives”

Life News ^ | Feb 3, 2016 | Conor Beck

[kathsua]

In 2014, the British government reported 12 late-term unborn babies were aborted simply because they had Down syndrome.

This disturbing statistic is prompting one mother of a boy with the condition to put a stop to the deadly, discriminatory practice.

Sarah Roberts from Guildford, England, is a mother of three who is trying to convince others that the lives of those with Down syndrome have value. Roberts’ son Oscar has the genetic disorder.

She tells Eagle radio: “A lot of the children we hang around with are typical children. They don’t necessarily notice any differences yet but I’m sure as time goes on they will. But I think it’s going to be a benefit to them to have Oscar in their lives, and enrich it … I think it’s going to be a benefit to Alfie (2 years old) and Flo (6 months old), to have Oscar in their lives.”

The urgency of her message is increasing given that pregnant women in the UK are now able to get a more accurate prenatal screening test for Down syndrome that detects tiny fragments of the baby’s DNA in the mother’s blood. Pro-life advocates are worried that this will increase abortions of unborn babies with Down syndrome.

That’s why Roberts is sharing a petition that explains how increased medical capabilities are helping people with Down syndrome to live long, healthy lives. In fact, as previously reported on LifeNews, 99 percent of people with Down syndrome say they are happy in their lives, but 90 percent of Down syndrome babies are killed by abortion before they get much of a chance to live.

“More and more people with Down Syndrome are living independently with varying degree of support and in paid or voluntary work. Most adults with Down Syndrome can read and write,” according to the petition.

British law does not protect Down syndrome babies from abortion. The country bans most abortions after 24 weeks, but the 1967 Abortion Act states that abortion after 24 weeks is allowable if “There is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.”

This wording has been used to justify extremely late-term abortions for babies with Down syndrome, a reality that the petitioners are aiming to change by calling for clarified guidelines that protect those with the condition. The petitioners believe that the current law sends a bad message to parents and society in general that babies with Down syndrome suffer and struggle with serious handicaps.

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Roberts explains what happened to her before Oscar was born: “The first thing someone said to me was ‘I’m sorry, we suspect your baby has Down’s syndrome. And to me, that message just made me panic. If the medical professionals that were delivering the news, the consultants, the midwives, everybody got on board, and we could change the perception. If they weren’t so fearful, then I think as a country we wouldn’t be so fearful.”

Roberts writes on her blog “Don’t Be Sorry,” which can be viewed here, about her experiences raising Oscar and dealing with how people perceive him. The home page of her blog includes a short biography of his life:

“This is Oscar. He’s my son. He also happens to have Down syndrome. I know I am only one voice but I figure it’s time to diminish any misconceptions or prejudices about Down syndrome that we might have…. And when you look at this face, how could anyone be sad to have him as a part of their life? I am officially the luckiest mummy in the world.”

The petition to stop late-term abortions of babies with Down syndrome in England has a goal of 10,000 signatures and can be signed here.

[kathsua]

Bigotry isn't only directed toward people of different "races". Many of those who claim to oppose bigotry don't have any trouble practicing the one of types of bigotry favored by the Nazis. Many hate those who lack the characteristics Hitler wanted for his master race that they believe such individuals should be killed before they can be born.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Trig may have something to do with it? Left can’t handle it.

[HerrBlucher]

The Down’s syndrome people that I have met certainly have benefited my life in so many ways. Then again if you are going to murder someone via abortion does it really matter why? The baby is inconvenient, kill it. The baby is the wrong gender, kill it. The baby is deformed in some way kill it. Kill kill kill is what the culture of death does.

[Slyfox]

At my church we have a sweet little couple who both have Down Syndrome. They both have jobs and they recently got married. For those who are curious about whether DS people getting married I can’t answer that. All I know is that they are happy and their parents are happy. And it all is very life-affirming.

[libertylover]

In 2014, the British government reported 12 late-term unborn preborn babies...

If pro-lifers start using the term "preborn" I believe that it will make a difference over time because it is more accurate.

Liberals are winning the "undocumented immigrant" vs. "illegal immigrant" term battle. Even Rush refers to them with this term. We need to turn the tide and use only the terms "preborn" and "illegal immigrant".

[lifeline]

All children are a blessing from God and those with what we’d call disabilities glorify God.

Persons with Down Syndrome are among the sweetest and most humble you will ever encounter.

[Gene Eric]

Benefit or hindrance. Nascent life is not a choice.

[Pollster1]

If democrats make killing healthy babies a hobby, why would they treat Downs babies any differently? Of course the democrats want them dead too - the body parts are still worth something.

“Kill them all. Let the accountant sort them out”.

It’s their version of: “Kill them all. Let God sort them out”.

[GladesGuru]

When that Down’s Syndrome couple marry and reproduce, Mr. Genetics says they are taking a large and unnecessary risk of having genetically deficient children. Said children will have many ‘special needs’ and the society at large(you amd me) will be billed for those services.

Add in the welfare bills, and the productive population has not been able to afford as many children because the government takes their money away and gives it to the lower end of the gene pool. We are thus forced to subsidize the production of below normal people by the normal/above normal.

Tomorrow does not look any better.

This is a sure way to national demise.

[redfreedom]

I have a simple understanding of abortion. Abortion is murder. To kill a human being (downs syndrome or not) prior to birth is just as much murder as killing a human after birth.

If the goal is to cleanse society of undesirables, then let’s start executing violent criminals in prison.

[Svartalfiar]

Liberals are winning the "undocumented immigrant" vs. "illegal immigrant" term battle. Even Rush refers to them with this term. We need to turn the tide and use only the terms "preborn" and "illegal immigrant".

Um, I believe the correct term is 'illegal alien'

[libertylover]

Um, I believe the correct term is 'illegal alien'

Um, OK. What's the difference between an illegal immigrant and an illegal alien?

To me the important thing is to change "undocumented" to "illegal". (Undocumented immigrants are people who can't remember which drawer they put their papers in.)

[Svartalfiar]

Um, OK. What's the difference between an illegal immigrant and an illegal alien?

There is a HUGE difference. Legally, there is no such thing as an 'illegal immigrant'. Here ya go.

https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Immigration-Terms-and-Definitions-Involving-Aliens

Alien
An individual who is not a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.

Immigrant
An alien who has been granted the right by the USCIS to reside permanently in the United States and to work without restrictions in the United States. Also known as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). All immigrants are eventually issued a "green card" (USCIS Form I-551), which is the evidence of the alien's LPR status. LPR's who are awaiting the issuance of their green cards may bear an I-551 stamp in their foreign passports.

Illegal Alien
Also known as an "Undocumented Alien," is an alien who has entered the United States illegally and is deportable if apprehended, or an alien who entered the United States legally but who has fallen "out of status" and is deportable.

And for some definitions more specific to INS/ICE/etc: http://www.dhs.gov/definition-terms

Alien - Any person not a citizen or national of the United States.

Deportable Alien - An alien in and admitted to the United States subject to any grounds of removal specified in the Immigration and Nationality Act. This includes any alien illegally in the United States, regardless of whether the alien entered the country by fraud or misrepresentation or entered legally but subsequently lost legal status.

Immigrant - See Permanent Resident Alien.
Permanent Resident Alien - An alien admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident. Permanent residents are also commonly referred to as immigrants; however, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) broadly defines an immigrant as any alien in the United States, except one legally admitted under specific nonimmigrant categories (INA section 101(a)(15)). An illegal alien who entered the United States without inspection, for example, would be strictly defined as an immigrant under the INA but is not a permanent resident alien. Lawful permanent residents are legally accorded the privilege of residing permanently in the United States. They may be issued immigrant visas by the Department of State overseas or adjusted to permanent resident status by the Department of Homeland Security in the United States.

[libertylover]

OK. Thanks for the info. I’ll use the term “Illegal Alien” from now on.

Re abortion. I ask that pro-lifers use the term “preborn” instead of “unborn”. Thanks.