U.S. Rep's Baby Has Down Syndrome (Cathy McMorris Rodgers-R)

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Time Magazine/AP

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers said Wednesday that her month-old son, Cole, has been diagnosed with Down syndrome.

"This news has been difficult to get our arms around. Like every parent, we have hopes and dreams for our children," McMorris Rodgers said in a letter to constituents and supporters. "Although initially stunned, we are embracing our son and preparing for what may lay ahead."

McMorris Rodgers, a second-term Republican from eastern Washington state, was the first member of Congress in more than a decade to give birth while in office.

Down syndrome occurs when a person has three, rather than two, copies of the 21st chromosome. Characteristics associated with Down syndrome include low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes and cognitive delays.



Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1626569,00.html

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Sorry to read this. My best to the parents and Cole. But at least legislators unlike many of us have super duper health care plans.

[Fenris]

1. That's sad.

:(

[Fridays Child]

3. Down Syndrome kids often have high emotional intelligence...

...in the sense that they can be very emotionally generous and loving.

I know that a number of physical problems are often features of the syndrome--not the least of which can be serious cardiac conditions--but these things don't lend themselves to a necessarily gloomy prognosis, in this day and age. Her child will require a lifetime of care but, depending on the severity of his condition, he'll bring his parents a lifetime of joy, too.

[Warpy]

4. In 25 years of nursing, I never met a Down's patient,

child or adult, who had the capacity to be mean.

Oh, they could be naughty and sometimes they could be obnoxious, but they'd never go out of their way to be jerks.

Down's isn't what it used to be. There's a whole spectrum now, and kids who get early diagnosis and treatment can expect a pretty full life, albeit with some help.

[Fridays Child]

6. Most of the time, their negative behavior is...

...a frustrated response to the ignorance and impatience of others. Even those who are most severely afflicted show tremendous love.

As an aside, I remember learning, years ago, that their skeletons are denser and sturdier than a so-called normal person's. So, for example, an accident that would break our bones might not necessarily fracture the bones of a Down Syndrome individual. I don't know if that's a documented feature of the syndrome but I thought it was quite interesting.

[benddem]

7. really some of the sweetest people

I've ever met. Love to please, always helpful.

[juno jones]

28. My father and mother worked with the handicapped.

My dad always said that he enjoyed downs people because they were so kind and loving. He liked being around them more than many 'normal' people.

[Ilsa]

26. Make no mistake, though. caring for a child with serious

medical, cognitive delays can be extremely expensive and emotionally challenging to the parents and caregivers. My husband's aunt has three adult daughters withsome form of mental retardation, and one appears to mild down's syndrome. i certainly wouldn't want to trade places with her, and my oldest is severely autistic. It is heartbreaking, wondering how your child will be cared for after you are gone. I feel sorry for this woman; I don't care which side of the aisle she votes on. And I am hoping it will open the eyes of some of her fellow congresscritters.

[rodeodance]

32. yes.

[ulysses]

2. she ought to talk to some parents here.

[BlueIris]

16. Yeah, we have some GREAT parents of kids with DS here. nt

[ulysses]

18. indeed we do. n/t

[Ayesha]

5. Congratulations to Ms. McMorris Rodgers

Although I am sure this is not the news she was hoping for, she still has a beautiful son who will have a lot to give to the world. With today's educational techniques, people with Down Syndrome can often learn to read, write, have a job and care for themselves. She need not be sad. I hope that as she enters this new world of doctors, physical therapists, and special education, she uses her position to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, and for universal health care. These kinds of experiences, when it affects them personally, really can lead to a change in people's hearts. Perhaps she'll even join us on the Democratic side. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. Well-said!

:thumbsup:

[alcibiades_mystery]

8. Anyone bemoaning this should read

this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Life-As-We-Know-Exceptional/dp/0679758666

[jwirr]

9. As the mother of a severely developmentally disabled child, I

predict that she is on her way to being a Democrat. I also sympathize with her.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

12. I can't pretend to know what it's like for a parent...

But I can't help thinking she's been given a unique opportunity to develop compassion. I don't envy her; but it may turn out to be the greatest gift she's ever received.

I hope you're right about her being a future Democrat... :hi:

[hack89]

13. Why do you think she needs to develop compassion?

do you really believe that republicans are incapable of compassion? What a strange idea.

[yardwork]

15. Since the legislative actions of Republicans usually lack compassion

it's easy to assume that they themselves lack compassion. Compassion is as compassion does.

[hack89]

23. I like to avoid broad-brush stereotypes ...

as they are usually wrong.

[Occulus]

46. Then show us a current example of a compassionate Republican.

I can't think of a single one.

[yardwork]

49. You've used two falacies and I have used none

First, your response to the original post on this subject was that the poster was saying that all Republicans lack compassion. That's a broad-brush characterization of the other poster's far narrower observation.

Second, you implied that my statement was a broad-brush stereotype, when it was not, and then you observed that broad-brush stereotypes are usually wrong. That's a straw man fallacy. First you set up the straw man (that my post was a broad-brush stereotype), then you knock it down (they're usually wrong, therefore my post was wrong).

If you reread my post, you may notice the use of the word "usually."

[donsu]

44. I like that - compassion is as compassion does

nt

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Not incapable...

But largely unwilling to exhibit it. Or perhaps compassion just takes a secondary role to corporate $$$.

[hack89]

24. Since corporations are now shifting their donations

to the present party in power, what does that say about the compassion of democrats? Or does the stereotype only hold true for republicans?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

31. As long as those donations do not interfere with their votes on

social and environmental reform, I'd say their compassion was not in danger of being surpassed by their greed.
Are Republicans capable of compassionate action? Of course. Unfortunately, I've not seen many Republicans these last 12 years. They're a dying breed. They've been largely replaced by rethuglicans.

Are Democrats capable of voting like insensitive clods? Of course. And certainly they aren't immune to corporate money's charms. But by and large, the set of people we, as Democrats, have elected, are making an effort to support those issues that we elected them to resolve...which requires an element of compassion.

[jwirr]

48. I don't understand what a corporate donation has to do with compassion?

[yardwork]

50. More straw man fallacies.

First, where is the evidence that "corporations" are shifting their donations to the Democratic Party? Are you saying that the total amount of corporate giving has shifted from the Republicans to the Democrats? If you are saying that, please provide evidence, because I sincerely doubt that it is true.

Second, what does the giving of corporations have to do with the Democrats's level of compassion? The two are unrelated.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

29. I know this woman

I glad to see people here being so kind to this family but I want you to know there is no way in hell Cathy McMorris would return any kindness to you or ever become a Democrat. My family has known her well for over 12 years. She is the reason I'm a Democrat now. She is the worst kind of Republican. She's extreme right wing, she lies, she cheats and she plays dirty.
McMorris has tried her best to damage public education and has tried hard to make health care available only to the rich. She lied big time about her background for years while running for the state legislator and only came clean days before the congressional election. I had a little chat with the editor of the Spokesman Review. (Yeah Bitch it's me)! But it was to late, the morans here in this Red Hell Hole don't read anyway.
You may think what has this got to do with them having a DS baby? Well I wish every one here would email and ask her to stay home and give this baby all the attention he needs from his own mother. This little guy needs his mother. Cathy's hero, Dr. Laura would tell her the same thing.
Like I said, I'm proud to see such compassion from the people here. My oldest son is deployed right now and he's away from his 2 month old daughter because of that bitch and her kind. I have no compassion for McMorris because the hell hound gets her jollies by thinking lives are being sacrificed so she and her worthless right wing buddies can have their 'freedoms'. I'm sorry if I offended anyone by venting and being so blunt but McMorris always does this to me.

[Arugula Latte]

30. Thanks for your perspective, English lady.

I don't get why some here try to bend over backwards to defend Republicans who would just as soon as stab them in the back.

[mitchum]

33. Thank you. Why would anyone think this "burden" is going to automatically ennoble her...

or wipe out her years of mendacity?
A pig is a pig is a pig

[RamboLiberal]

35. Thank you for letting us know about McMorris

I hope she appreciates all that is afforded to her family by the perks of congress and I would guess she is also wealthy. But then she probably feels she "earned it". I just hope that Cole will expose her to parents of Down's children who will not have the resources she has and will teach her some empathy. But knowing most Republicans of the current bent like McMorris,

[WhiteTara]

38. Welcome to DU

English Lady :hi: and thanks for the info.

[DinahMoeHum]

53. Looks like "Lady Karma" has smacked McMorris big time.

:evilfrown:

[jwirr]

47. Not so strange, compassion is the understanding of anothers

problems. In my experience all too many pugs lack an understanding of the needs of persons in trouble. One of the things she is going to learn is that the programs she needs to help her child are the programs that her pugs have been trying to destroy.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

25. "on her way to being a Democrat"

One of George Will's children has Down syndrome.

[mitchum]

34. Rove also has a developmentally disabled son

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. Really?

Wow

[mitchum]

37. Absolutely true...and it must really chafe the ass of a superior being...

like Rove

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. What kind of a disability does he have?

[Auntie Bush]

45. I bet he got that gene from his father. Or

someone is telling Rove he deserves punishment and he needs to start now...not after he's gone from this earth plane. OK...I'm only venting!

[Twillig]

39. I think it was in a column by Royko long ago

where I think Mike pointed out how George Will had become a champion of (a) (Government) programs for
children with Downs Syndrome when before he had been a heartless bastard in that regard.

He's still--well, you know.

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. Yes Will's wife is an active parent in several national groups

for parents of children with disabilities.

[demigoddess]

42. as the mother of a severely retarded child we can hope she is on her way

to being a democrat and advocating universal health care. This would be a big blessing for people with down's or other syndromes. My daughter has 13 qminus

[elocs]

10. I have a 30 year old niece who has Down syndrome.

She was fortunate in not having a lot of health problems, particularly heart problems. The more these kids can learn in their first few years, the further ahead they will be. In fact, when my niece was a baby my sister would take her to visit other mothers who had Downs babies to show that it is not a tragedy. Depending upon their mental level and health problems, those with Down syndrome do not necessarily need help all of their lives. My niece graduated from high school and for the last 11 years she has worked for a hospital cafeteria and is an outstanding and dedicated employee. She has a boyfriend who she talks with on the phone every night. She is a loving and happy adult now. The only thing any parent can hope from their children is that they can be the best that they can be and be as happy as they can be.

[bedazzled]

14. yep, she's lucky to have access to a great health plan

the means to access specialists, special schools.

bet she doesn't have to deal with "IEPs" and have
her kid warehoused to where he'll cause the least
work for the school.

hope her kid does well. wish everyone else's could,
too...

[BlueIris]

17. Woah--wrong thread? Bad taste much?

Some stories shouldn't be used to try to make a point about issues.

[mainegreen]

21. Based on congress's behavior I'd say the comment is right on the mark.

:shrug:

[Ilsa]

27. No, this is the reality for alot of us. Even when we have "adequate"

healthcare, it doesn't do shit for kids with "developmental disabilities" without a long, drawn-out fight that usually ends up in court. As a member of Congress, she probably can't afford to try anyone else's reality. This is a perfect opportunity to turn emotion into activism. How do you think rights for the disabled have evolved over the decades?

[jwirr]

52. YES! We stood on street corners begging for handouts so we could

run schools in church basements for our children and we lobbied to get them into the school systems and later to have meaningful community based lives. We fought in the legislatures and the courts and we did not give up. We still have a long way to go in many state.

[yardwork]

51. DU exists for the exchange of opinions and information

[FloridaJudy]

20. Welcome to the world, Cole!

It's nice to have you here. Here's hoping you and your parents meet kind, understanding people who help you achieve as much as you can.

[maddezmom]

43. well said FloridaJudy

as a mom of an autistic son, I know how much it means when just one person is understanding. :)

[FloridaJudy]

55. Just what you say to a brand-new human being.

Children aren't to blame for the sins of their parents, and they all need to be loved and welcomed. The ones that aren't "perfect" probably need it most of all.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

22. I wish nothing but strengh and love for the family.

Little Cole is going to need plenty of both from his parents.

[noonwitch]

54. Children with Downs bring a lot of love into a family

We had some neighbors who had a child with Downs when I was a kid. Her mom was awesome-made sure that CFG would take her as a Bluebird, brought her to all school events even though she went to a different school and just made sure she had the best life possible. My mom used to always say what a wonderful family they were.