I went to the grocery store today and had the misfortune to see the cover of the latest issue of Star magazine which shouts to the world that they have the "Truth About The Twins." Apparently a person who claims she used to be a nanny for the celebrities fraternal twins states that she thinks the twins might have Down syndrome.
Are you kidding me?
OK - it's not that I don't think it's possible that one of the twins could have an extra 21st chromosome, but the way the story is presented is very disappointing! The magazine states that there are rumors the twins could be "afflicted" with the "horrible mental disorder."
What? Is having Down syndrome like the plague?
The story had more holes than my spaghetti strainer. The nanny backs up her theory that the twins have DS with the information that Angie had a difficult pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. WOW! Who knew that high blood pressure late in pregnancy could cause a change in the babies at the chromosomal level? That sure is news to me! Probably news to most obstetricians and perhaps God, too!
The truth of the matter is that Down syndrome is caused by a triplication of the 21st chromosome. This genetic anomaly generally happens shortly after the egg is fertilized, and there is no known cause. There is a maternal age correlation with the likelihood of a baby having DS, but young women can have children with DS too.
The twins are also Fraternal twins - not identical. the chances of *both* babies having DS is incredibly slim.
The National Enquirer ran a similar story In April of 2010. Both stories put an amazingly negative slant, touting the "tragedy" of having a child with Down syndrome.
It's all about sensationalism. What is "tragic" is that magazines like this would vilify that extra chromosome. That not only is Down syndrome presented as some sort of horrible mental disorder (which it is not), but that this type of misinformation is perpetuated and widely publicized on every single check-out stand in the United States. Currently more than 90% of people who learn their unborn child has Down syndrome choose to end the pregnancy. How many of those people actually know what Down syndrome really is, or what huge potential people with DS have? Negative media presentation like this only serves to influence public perceptions of people who seem "different" in one way or another. Once upon a time black people were represented negatively in the media. Now it's those with disabilities?? Shouldn't we be past that by now?
Does this look like the face of tragedy to you?
Ultimately the story appearing in Star does not put forth any actual proof that either twin has Down syndrome. If one of their children does have Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) I'm sure eventually we will all know. The important thing for us to know now is that a disability does not define a child. If you have a beautiful child, you announce to the world that you have a beautiful child. A precious baby is a baby first and foremost. You don't have a baby and then tell everyone, "Well we just had this baby but she's a red head and we wanted a blond. She also has lighter skin than we wanted, and her nose seems a little long. Looks like she has funky toes, also." Loving parents just don't do that! Same thing if you have a child with an extra chromosome. She is a child. She is beautiful just the way she is. Focus on her beauty first, and get to know her for the person she is.
For those of you who don't know much about Down syndrome, or the potential people with Down syndrome have, here is a link to a video of The Skink reading at 3 years and 2 months of age. That's right! Potential!
Now does this look like the face of tragedy to you? Not so much, huh?
*
Are you kidding me?
OK - it's not that I don't think it's possible that one of the twins could have an extra 21st chromosome, but the way the story is presented is very disappointing! The magazine states that there are rumors the twins could be "afflicted" with the "horrible mental disorder."
What? Is having Down syndrome like the plague?
The story had more holes than my spaghetti strainer. The nanny backs up her theory that the twins have DS with the information that Angie had a difficult pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. WOW! Who knew that high blood pressure late in pregnancy could cause a change in the babies at the chromosomal level? That sure is news to me! Probably news to most obstetricians and perhaps God, too!
The truth of the matter is that Down syndrome is caused by a triplication of the 21st chromosome. This genetic anomaly generally happens shortly after the egg is fertilized, and there is no known cause. There is a maternal age correlation with the likelihood of a baby having DS, but young women can have children with DS too.
The twins are also Fraternal twins - not identical. the chances of *both* babies having DS is incredibly slim.
The National Enquirer ran a similar story In April of 2010. Both stories put an amazingly negative slant, touting the "tragedy" of having a child with Down syndrome.
It's all about sensationalism. What is "tragic" is that magazines like this would vilify that extra chromosome. That not only is Down syndrome presented as some sort of horrible mental disorder (which it is not), but that this type of misinformation is perpetuated and widely publicized on every single check-out stand in the United States. Currently more than 90% of people who learn their unborn child has Down syndrome choose to end the pregnancy. How many of those people actually know what Down syndrome really is, or what huge potential people with DS have? Negative media presentation like this only serves to influence public perceptions of people who seem "different" in one way or another. Once upon a time black people were represented negatively in the media. Now it's those with disabilities?? Shouldn't we be past that by now?
Does this look like the face of tragedy to you?
Ultimately the story appearing in Star does not put forth any actual proof that either twin has Down syndrome. If one of their children does have Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) I'm sure eventually we will all know. The important thing for us to know now is that a disability does not define a child. If you have a beautiful child, you announce to the world that you have a beautiful child. A precious baby is a baby first and foremost. You don't have a baby and then tell everyone, "Well we just had this baby but she's a red head and we wanted a blond. She also has lighter skin than we wanted, and her nose seems a little long. Looks like she has funky toes, also." Loving parents just don't do that! Same thing if you have a child with an extra chromosome. She is a child. She is beautiful just the way she is. Focus on her beauty first, and get to know her for the person she is.
For those of you who don't know much about Down syndrome, or the potential people with Down syndrome have, here is a link to a video of The Skink reading at 3 years and 2 months of age. That's right! Potential!
Now does this look like the face of tragedy to you? Not so much, huh?
*
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