A Mom's perspective on
the causes of Down syndrome

There are a few different causes of Down syndrome. The main cause is an “error” in cell division at the time of conception. Each parent contributes 23 chromosomes equaling 46 chromosomes for new life--except in Down syndrome.

Chromosome #21 from either the mother or father somehow gets “sticky” and drags an extra copy of genetic material along, causing the newly formed chromosome to contain three copies instead of two. This gives people with Down syndrome 47 chromosomes. It’s why Down syndrome is also called “Trisomy 21”—because the 21st chromosome has 3 (tri) copies.

There are other, rarer types called Mosaic Down syndrome and Translocation Down syndrome. For a more scientifically detailed explanation you can read this article.

Down syndrome is NOT caused by anything you did. It just happens. It occurs at the same rate all over the world, across racial, economic, and cultural lines.

But why, you might ask, do we as humans continue to produce children with Down syndrome? What are the causes of Down syndrome? They should have really been evolution-ized out by now, right? (not including eugenics through abortion) But Down syndrome has been around since man first existed, as evidenced by literature and art.

As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, I’ve racked my brains trying to understand why. As to the causes of Down syndrome, well, you could get all technical and scientific to explain the mechanics of cell division--but I see my daughter, who happens to have Down syndrome, as a blessing and a gift.

The human race needs
people with Down syndrome.

We need them to be our teachers, to influence our souls and bring our humanity to greater heights. We need their unconditional love. We need their helplessness to inspire us to greater brotherly love and service—to better ourselves as people. We need them to inspire us by their perseverance, their stubbornness in doing even the simplest task that we may take for granted.

Some might say that there is no cause of Down syndrome; it’s simply a genetic mistake and something you should “throw-away”. Some say the medical establishment wants to “cure” DS through early pre-natal testing and encouraging mothers to abort their precious angels before they are born.

“If it’s not ‘perfect’, then let’s get rid if it” is the shameful, disgusting attitude of many people. Reminds me of Nazi Germany’s eugenics movement. They don't even care about causes of Down syndrome, they simply want something viewed as imperfect to cease existing.

Shall we then get rid of people who have Autism? Or Cerebral Palsy? Or homeless people? Or what about the elderly with Dementia or Alzheimer’s? What about kids with ADHD? Or how about people who are just plain weird?

Yes, there are medical issues. Yes, we don't know the causes of Down syndrome. Yes, there is delayed development. Yes, there is mental retardation. Yes, there could be heart and gastrointestinal problems. Yes, your child will look different. Yes, there will be other problems. So what? The facts are that Down syndrome is not as bad as you may have heard about!

Today ALL of these things can be addressed. Early-intervention programs, nurturing families, and special-education classes have contributed to a 15-point rise in the I.Q. scores of children with Down syndrome in the last 30 years, says Stephen Greenspan, a professor of psychiatry and former president of the Academy on Mental Retardation.

The life span has doubled in the last 15 years from 25 to 49 years. Medical problems can be corrected with surgery; most are very successful.

There are many, many support groups for families everywhere with more created every day. The opportunities for people with Down syndrome in society have never been greater.

So WHY are we being influenced to abort our babies with Down syndrome when their lives have so much value?

People with Down syndrome give so much back to the community. They give love and service to others through volunteer work, teaching, inspiring others, and just by living everyday lives. They perform vital tasks by the jobs they hold in their communities. They entertain us with their talents of acting, dancing, and being funny. Their art moves us.

People with Down syndrome have value as human beings. They have value in culture. They have value in society. And they have value as children of God. It is up to us to see and recognize that value for what it is.

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