THE VOICE OF A RARE CHILD

Please take a moment and read this article we just had published in YOUR PREGNANCY a magazine in South Africa.

http://www.yourparenting.co.za/child/special-needs/living-with-trisomy-13 

A very special thank to YOUR PARENTING for publishing this article and helping us to spread awareness!

For the boy who was never supposed to live, a birthday bash

For the boy who was never supposed to live, a birthday bash

From the article, read the full article here http://www.ksl.com/?sid=20875687&nid=1010

SALT LAKE CITY — Aaron Peterson was never supposed to make it this far.

He is "not compatible with life," according to some doctors. Born with Trisomy 18, a genetic disorder that comes with a host of life-threatening medical conditions, Aaron has been defying the odds for two years.

To celebrate Aaron's success, Rebekah threw him a birthday party on Wednesday. Last year, his birthday party drew hundreds. This year, too, saw a crowd.

Bella Santorum turns 4!!!

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes yesterday! 

Our family has another birthday to celebrate in just a few days, when our youngest daughter Bella turns 4 on Sunday, May 13. We’d like to make Bella's birthday as special as possible, so we are asking you all to send her a birthday wish on our website. Please take a moment to send her a wish using the link below, and please LIKE and SHARE this post so your friends and family can send their birthday wishes, too!


http://www.ricksantorum.com/

Asheville. NC :: Special Reports - Living With Trisomy 18

News ABC 13 Shares another amazing story of Living with Trisomy

Asheville. NC :: Special Reports - Living With Trisomy 18

On  You tube http://youtu.be/M5JDrQrwYFY

FIRST-PERSON: The dark side of prenatal testing

FIRST-PERSON: The dark side of prenatal testing

http://www.sbcbaptistpress.org/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=37723

Ms. Monahan says prenatal testing is not "inherently evil." Sometimes these tests detect conditions for which doctors can then treat the baby in utero. But she told CNN, "the fact that it leads to so many abortions is absolutely troubling."

Local Teen With Trisomy 18 Continues To Make Strides

http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/203910/28/Local-Teen-With-Trisomy-18-Continues-To-Make-Strides

ELDERSBURG, Md. (WUSA) -- Steve and Maryanne Danko of Carroll county take joy in describing the personality of their son, Mikey. They say his carefree smile and laughter are his most common expressions.

Steve Danko says, "It's so amazing how much happiness he brings to the people who get to know him."

Mikey is 14 years old, he is one of the longest survivors of trisomy 18. Trisomy 18 was brought into the national spotlight after Senator Rick Santorum announced he was dropping out of the Republican presidential nomination race. Santorum's daughter, Bella, was suffering due to complications from Trisomy 18.

Maryanne Danko says, "I remember early on when the doctors would say you've got an appointment six months from now and I thought 'well, we'll see.' You know, it was hard to kind of think six months from now because we were given such a bleak outlook."

Australian-first genetic test boosts chances of a healthy baby

VICTORIAN couples with a history of miscarriages, those at risk of passing on genetic disorders and older women struggling to get pregnant have had their chances of delivering healthy babies boosted through a new Australian-first genetic test.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/australian-first-genetic-test-boosts-chances-of-a-healthy-baby/story-fn7x8me2-1226341606862

Why So Many Babies Are Still Being Born With Down Syndrome

Why So Many Babies Are Still Being Born With Down Syndrome

Abstract below 

Posted in THE ATLANTIC on APRIL 2, 2012 by Adam Wolfberg


Perhaps the most important factor is a sea change in society's approach to individuals with Down syndrome. Explains lead author of the recent paper, Jaime L. Natoli, a senior consultant in the department of clinical analysis at the Southern California Permanente Medical Group, in response to emailed questions: "Families have significantly more educational, social, and financial support than they had in the past. For example, from a social standpoint, women of childbearing age are from perhaps the first generation who grew up in an era where individuals with Down syndrome were in their schools or daycare centers -- perhaps not the mainstream integration that we see today, but still a level of exposure that was very different than in generations prior. They grew up watching kids with Down syndrome on Sesame Street."