‘OMG, I can’t believe someone thought your baby had Down Syndrome! He’s perfect and gorgeous looking. How terrible.’: Mom to son with Down Syndrome urges ‘all babies are beautiful’

“Perfection is not dependent on how many chromosomes you have.

Beauty is not dependent on how many chromosomes you have.

Health is not dependent on how many chromosomes you have.

Happiness is not dependent on how many chromosomes you have.

All of these things coexist.

Everyone, and at the same time, no one, is perfect.

All babies are beautiful.

Health is a luck of the draw, something to be thankful for, and a privilege if you have it. It’s certainly not entirely linked to chromosome count. Happiness is for everyone.

Lots of us who have children with Down Syndrome are more conscious of our language now, based on the journeys we’ve been on.

They suspected our baby had Down Syndrome, but he was perfect when he was born.

They thought our baby had Down Syndrome from the scan, but he was completely normal.

We don’t care if it’s a boy or girl, as long as they are healthy.

‘OMG, I can’t believe someone thought your baby had Down Syndrome! He’s completely perfect and gorgeous looking. How terrible and rude.’

‘Her baby is ugly, looks like a Downs baby.’

Whilst the world has come so far in terms of acceptance for differences, it still feels like there is a stigma surrounding Down Syndrome.

There is an offense if it is suggested your child may have Down Syndrome when they don’t.

People still use Down Syndrome as an insult towards people’s behavior and looks.

Imagine at your most vulnerable time as a parent, looking at your child’s hospital notes and seeing the words ‘facial features: abnormal.’

It’s allowed to hurt, and we are allowed to challenge language in an attempt to make the world a little kinder and accepting for our children.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Sarah Ojar. You can follow her journey on Facebook. Submit your own story here and be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

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