Miracles Happen: National Down Syndrome awareness month

In this world of technological and medical advances, it is easy to put aside the idea that God still performs miracles. October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month - a time to raise public awareness, promote inclusion and acceptance, and celebrate the abilities and accomplishments of individuals with Down Syndrome. 

All good things, but as a mother to a child with Down syndrome and a nurse who loves learning about the body on a cellular level, there is one incredible fact that is so profound, yet somehow the general public knows so little about it. Not once during my pregnancy was this fact shared with me. Instead, I was only told about the “mistake” that had occurred. And yet, the reality is far more incredible: the miracle of life for individuals with Down syndrome.

There are only 3 trisomies that are survivable to birth and trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) is one of those. The other 2 result in death either a short time after birth or within the first year of life. But because of the genetic chaos, even statistics for miscarriage in Down syndrome babies is high and to be born into this Earth is one miracle in itself. Life outside the womb is the other extraordinary miracle. Why?

Chromosome 21 has 200-300 genes, instructions for proteins and enzymes within the human body. In Down Syndrome, all 200-300 genes are present in an extra dose, leading to and increased production in their corresponding protein or enzyme.

As Dixie Lawrence, a biochemist and pioneer in the area of epigenetics via nutrition for Down syndrome so elegantly wrote, "the biggest mystery about Down syndrome is how it is that with all of the chaos going on in over thirty billion cells all at the same time, that a human being should even be produced, much less walk, talk, grow, think and survive.....Simply stated, our children are living, breathing, thinking miracles.

We need to get that straight. You are not the parent of a defective human being. You are raising a miracle, who, though so incredibly complex and disorganized can think, learn and most important of all, love!"

Not only was I blessed to give birth to my miracle baby, I got to carry and give birth to my daughter Gracie when I myself was not supposed to be able to have children due to my own rare health issues. 

To close, for me this passage in John 1 reflects the life of those with Down Syndrome beautifully:

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.

2 "Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins?"

3 "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”