Harrowing decision

IT Is right to celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities, as in the Mail’s spread on children with Down’s syndrome.

However, only high-functioning children with Down’s were depicted, with the explanation they were ‘defying the prejudice and ignorance of others’.

My husband and I terminated a pregnancy after a diagnosis of Down’s and an associated heart defect — not out of prejudice or ignorance, but out of love and a desire to prevent our child from suffering, especially in adulthood.

When given a Down’s diagnosis dur-

ing pregnancy, parents can’t know whether their child will be high-functioning or at the other end of the scale: requiring operation after operation, unable to speak, suffering mental health problems, autism and epilepsy, being unable to live independently or developing Alzheimer’s by the age of 40.

Knowing how vulnerable your child would be and not knowing who would look after them when you are gone is harrowing.

Name and address supplied.