5 Inspirational Mothers Who Chose Life for Children With Down Syndrome

Ninety percent of unborn babies diagnosed with Down Syndrome are aborted. That’s not a typo -- 90 percent. This distressing statistic makes the following mothers even more remarkable for choosing life for their beautiful children who just happen to have an extra chromosome.

Mayumi Mitogawa, 52, Japan

From Japan Times, on her 14-year-old son, Yutaka:

“He just loves to make people laugh,” Mitogawa said, smiling affectionately at her son — who was born with trisomy 21, which causes Down syndrome — as he fooled around mimicking the motions of famous Japanese comedians. “I know that some people refer to children with Down syndrome as angels, but I don’t see my son like that. He is just human.”

Catherine Moore, 19, Great Britain

From The Daily Mail:

A teenager who became the youngest mother in Britain to a Down’s Syndrome baby after falling pregnant aged 15 has spoken of her pride in proving her doubters wrong.

Despite being just a child herself, single teen mother Catherine Moore, now 19, refused to give her baby up after learning he had Down’s Syndrome, vowing to raise him herself despite concerns that she wouldn’t cope.

“He needed me and I needed him, it was as simple as that. I could never be without him and he is quite simply the most wonderful thing ever to happen to me, he really is.

I hate it when people say they are sorry he has Down’s because I am not. It’s who Tyler is and I would not change him for the world. I’m so glad I had a Down’s baby.”

The good news is that having a baby with Down syndrome is nearly identical to having a baby without it. Having a baby with Down syndrome means that you’ll have lots of sleepless nights, crying, poopy diapers, and maybe the occasional spit-up. You’ll also have snuggles, cute little gummy smiles, and that great feeling when they hold your hand. Down syndrome doesn’t mean you’ve somehow given birth to a three-headed space alien which needs some kind of insane level of care. He’s still just a baby. Feed him, love him, and snuggle him. That’s all you have to do. And that’s not that difficult, is it?

Connie Feda, 49, Pennsylvania

Feda, inspired by her daughter, created her own line of Down Syndrome dolls. Her Dolls For Downs project is now a full-time occupation. From The Daily Mail:

Connie Feda, 49, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, set about making a mini-me version of her youngest child, Hannah, after she complained that none of the dolls in a toy catalog looked like her.

And she told the Huffington Post: 'I want Hannah to see a doll with Down Syndrome and see something beautiful, because that's what I see when I look at her.

Dr. Lalita Joshi, Nepal

From Sharing4Good.org:

In 2006 Lalita founded the Down Syndrome Association of Nepal (DSAN). Lalita says that "If every child matters, every child has the right to a good start in life. If every child matters, every child has the right to be included. And that is so important for children with special needs." DSAN's vision is a Nepal where children with Down Syndrome can grow up to be independent, based on their capabilities, and be respected and productive members of society.

These brave mothers are proof that an extra chromosome just means extra love.