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The Prenatal Extermination of Children With Down Syndrome
Guest Column | By Kurt Kondrich | January 19, 2009
(Editor’s note: the March for Life is scheduled for Washington, D.C. on Thursday, January 22).
Recently I read an article about how scientists are going to use an outer space satellite to monitor the kangaroo rat which is an endangered species. The article states: “It allows us to more quickly recognize whether populations are declining where we want them to exist. “If they go below a threshold, that is when we would consider intervening.” I have a beautiful five-year-old daughter Chloe who has Down Syndrome, and she has brought immeasurable good and light into the world. Because of the refining of and increase in prenatal testing children with Down Syndrome are also an endangered species with a 90%+ abortion rate once identified in the womb. Chloe’s unique human species could very well become extinct in another generation if attitudes are not changed.
On May 16th 2003 our 2nd child Chloe Emmanuel Kondrich was born into this world, and she placed our family on an incredible journey. We had no genetic tests done despite the constant pressure from the medical community, and my wife Margie and I were told shortly after Chloe entered this world that our daughter had characteristics of Down Syndrome. I immediately asked if I could hold Chloe, and the doctor seemed surprised that I was so excited to hold her. When he placed her in my arms I gazed into the eyes of my precious daughter and thanked God for her safe birth. We began our trek into the world of disabilities, and we were immediately overloaded with information, questions, concerns and uncertainty. We knew very little about Down Syndrome or any disabilities at the time, but we made it our mission to gain as much knowledge as possible.
My son Nolan, who was 4 at the time of Chloe’s birth, saw her only as his beautiful sister who he looked forward to loving and playing with. My wife and I embraced our priceless gift and prayed for God’s guidance, strength and wisdom to get the best possible supports and services for Chloe. Once we got Chloe home and were settled we were surrounded by a team of Early Intervention therapists, and these truly amazing individuals planted in our family priceless seeds of hope and optimism. We celebrated and treasured each little developmental milestone Chloe reached, and it has made us as a family much more thankful for each day the Lord blesses us with. Having a child with a disability allows you to quickly discover the true heart and core of people, and Chloe and all children with disabilities are a wake-up call to a world obsessed with perfection, instant gratification and self.
When Chloe was born I was in my 20th year as a Police Officer. I prayed very hard and decided to take a leap of faith to pursue a career in Early Intervention to work with children with disabilities and their families. I returned to college at the University of Pittsburgh to pursue my Masters Degree and it was very humbling. My old typewriter still occupied a spot in the attic as a relic from my undergraduate days at IUP. With God carrying me I managed to graduate from Pitt with my Masters Degree, and I now work as the Director of Community and Family Outreach for Early Intervention Specialist. I am very active in the disabilities community at the local and state levels, and my mission remains the same as it did when I was a Police Officer – To Serve and Protect.
At age 5 Chloe has positively impacted more people than most individuals do in a lifetime. Chloe’s picture has been on the big screen in Times Square as part of the National Down Syndrome Society awareness video, and she has been written about in several papers. Chloe met Governor Palin and Senator McCain twice during the campaign and my official name has become “Chloe’s Dad.”
Chloe attends her neighborhood elementary school, and her teachers frequently comment that the kids are drawn to her. As a family we meet with new and expecting parents of children with Down Syndrome to congratulate them and show them the goodness waiting for them. There are many challenges and valleys to navigate when blessed with a child with a disability, but the rewards are priceless when you are able to disconnect from this frenzied world and see the glimpse of Heaven these children offer.
I have become so upset by the movement to abort children with Down Syndrome that I started a site http://sadsin.blogspot.com/ to educate people about this eugenic movement. Instead of the kangaroo rat I wish we could monitor children with Down Syndrome from outer space because they truly are a priceless gift from God who remind us in this self-centered world that serving others is much more rewarding than serving ourselves.
Kurt Kondrich is a retired police officer, and is currently Director of Community and Family Outreach for Early Intervention Specialist. He lives in Pittsburgh, PA.
Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views of Accuracy in Media or its staff.
8 Comments | Post a Comment
It really saddens me to think that people would actually want to do this. I have a couple of friends who have kids with Down Syndrome, and feel that their children are sweet little angels.
There is a book that I just recently read titled, “That Went Well… Adventures in Caring for My Sister
” written by Terrell Dougan. I didn’t realize how much fun living with a child with special needs could be. I wish that more people could recognize what blessing these children can bring to the lives of those around them- maybe then they would see the tragedy in aborting them.
Mr.Kondrich & Family,
May God richly bless you and your work.
Mr. Kondrich,
Thanks for the inspirational article. I have also been blessed with a DS “child” who will turn 30 this year. I have never heard the connection between abortion and the infantcide of Down Syndrome babies put so well.
God bless you!
Mark
Miami police veteran
God blesses those who take on the responsibility of lifelong care of a child who may never be independant. Those who would terminate the life that is not “perfect” may want to rethink that policy. Who of us is perfect? When we start to do that sort of thing, where is the line drawn?
God bless you and your family Mr.Kondrich,
You said it all when you stated “Having a child with a disability allows you to quickly discover the true heart and core of people, and Chloe and all children with disabilities are a wake-up call to a world obsessed with perfection, instant gratification and self.”
We are quickly becoming inhumane organisms unable to deal with reality and escaping any form of moral responsibility by delving into instantaneous self worship.
‘People’ who think abortion is an answer really have the disability.
I too have a 4 year boy with DS. He is my fourth child. He just mastered riding his tricycle. He is learning to read and knows how to write the first letter of his name. We are teaching him how to be safe playing in our cul-de-sac.
I am volunteer with our local DS organization. We are trying to educate health professionals on how to refer families to our organization and educate health professionals about DS. I hope and pray that pregnant mothers who take the prenatal test and get a positive diagnosis will at least be curious and want to understand and know about these kids before they abort! Our son Mark has made our family closer and my kids have more compassion to people who have special needs. I have challenges with my normal thirteen year old child just as I have challenges with little Mark. Life is not perfect. Hopefully, pregnant mothers will realize that and these test will be used as tools to help them prepare for their child with special needs as I did when I had my amnio.
Thanks for the article.
You are a wonderful man, Kurt. I wish the world had more like you.
A society that rejects the disabled and screens out the sick for want of a perfect specimen, reminds me of those, who many years ago sterilized and exterminated the imperfect to create the master race. Pray we are not heading down that road again.
Again, may the God of all creation bless the children and the unborn.
January 20 at 12:12 pm | #1 | Link
Mr. Kondrich, I will pray for blessing that through you, your orgainization, and others like you, God will work miricles. If one beautiful child is saved, it is worth it. These are precious and beautiful gifts from God to this world. Children with disabilities are not a burden, they teach us patience, humility, and grace.
Thank you.