November 30, 2010 12:50 PM
Down syndrome, adoption and the Curtis Family
In honor of National Adoption Month:
In the fall of 2008 Tripp was in the hospital - with what turned out to be a long-term MRSA disability - when a Washington Post reporter called me to talk about Down syndrome. With McCain's nomination of Sarah Palin, the media was interested in finding new angles to explore. The one who called me - Michael Alison Chandler - was curious when I told her that 90% of babies diagnosed prenataly with Down syndrome were aborted - even though there are waiting lists of families who wish to adopt them
She also was intrigued that our youngest child had parents in Taiwan who visited regularly and who, in fact, were scheduled to be spending time with us the following week. When she asked if she could bring a photographer to visit, I said yes - happy to spread the good news of adoption and perhaps inspire another family to add a little extra to their lives.
Keep in mind that it was a school night and Tripp had been missing from our lives for a month when Mama Carol and Daddy Mark visited. In the picture below I am sitting at his place:
A Leap of Love
Adoptions of Children With Down Syndrome Are on the IncreaseBy Michael Alison Chandler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 9, 2008; C01Jonny and Madeleine, the eighth and ninth children in the Curtis family, were born 54 weeks apart but grew up in many ways like twins. Best friends from the beginning, they learned to walk and sound out words together. But Madeleine's development soon outpaced her older brother's.
Looking ahead, Barbara and Tripp Curtis worried that Jonny, who has Down syndrome, would be alone as his siblings grew up and left home. And so they adopted Jesse, Daniel and, finally, Justin. All three have Down syndrome.
Now the four brothers, ages 8 to 16, share a bedroom decorated with posters of SpongeBob SquarePants and a framed picture of Jesus in their sprawling Loudoun County house. They also share a love of the Beatles, the Everly Brothers and Special Olympics basketball.
For many parents, a diagnosis of Down syndrome can be overwhelming as they face the likelihood that the child will struggle to live independently and require intensive medical, financial and social support. Most prenatal diagnoses of Down syndrome lead to abortion.
Yet almost 200 families are on a waiting list to adopt a child with Down syndrome in the United States. Others are seeking to adopt such children overseas. Many of those interested in adoption, such as the Curtises, have a child with the genetic condition; some are special-education teachers or motivated by religious beliefs or idealism.
Read entire story and see more pictures at the Washington Post.
Imagine my surprise yesterday at the hospital on Tripp's laptop when I learned via Angie's comment that our family was on the front page of the Washington Post! That story was gathered a month ago when Justin's parents were visiting from Taiwan so it took me by surprise.
Today it is in the C section of the post, but yesterday it appeared on the front page of what I now have learned is called the Bullet Edition - the ones they stock in places like grocery stores on Saturday.
What a blessing and an honor to have the opportunity to promote adoption and Down syndrome and the combination of the two :)
Daddy Mark and Mommy Carol visit last month - see:
Down syndrome, adoption and a love that grows
Posted in Adoption, Down syndrome, Family | Permalink
