Why does Down syndrome exist?

[AnnettefromTX]

Why would a benevolent God allow humans to have Down syndrome?

Here’s my take on it… my sister Fran (who now lives with us since both parents have passed away) was the last sibling of 7. Eventually all the “normal” kids grew up and moved away… then dad died and it was just mom and Fran. Soon mom developed health problems and, low and behold, needed a lot of help (she did home dialasis). Fran did everything.

We were blessed to have mom with us an extra ten years because there was always someone there to help her… our Downs Syndrome sister. God has a plan… even if we don’t understand it.

 

[wjp984]

The only reason we are considered normal while they are not is simply because there are more of us.

doubtful. If there were some sort of mutation where 90% of all newborms developed down syndrome and only 10% of the population was born normal, that 10% would rule and dominate the earth even though there would be less of them. Eventually, they would repopualte and be the dominant ones in numbers as well also. So, I don’t think a person with down syndrome would ever be considered normal even if there were more of them than us.

 

[TimOliv]

doubtful. If there were some sort of mutation where 90% of all newborms developed down syndrome and only 10% of the population was born normal, that 10% would rule and dominate the earth even though there would be less of them. Eventually, they would repopualte and be the dominant ones in numbers as well also. So, I don’t think a person with down syndrome would ever be considered normal even if there were more of them than us.

10%? You either think very little of people with Down Syndrome or very highly of everyone else. Down Syndrome is not a lesser state to evolve out of. It is not a mutation that needs to be worked out of the gene pool. Its simply being different.

 

[wjp984]

I don’t think very little of people with down syndrome nor do I think highly of everyone else. You seemed to miss the point. I was thinking rationally. But if you think everyone should have donw syndrome then that I suppose you are entitled to an opinion even if I don’t understand why.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

It (among other things) is one of the repurcussions of man’s original choice to sin against God. If you are not guilty of sin, feel free to complain about it.

Hi,
I agree. We live in a fallen world and when Adam and Eve sinned, every bad thing we know of today entered in.

 

[djrakowski]

To allow other humans to grow in love, patience and understanding as they assist them in their lives. My Down syndrome daughter, with all her joy and amazing love for people, puts “normal” folks to shame.

Exactly. Two of our children have “special needs,” and that’s the way we’ve thought about it, and the way our priest explained it to us, as well.

 

[Mickey]

My Down syndrome daughter, with all her joy and amazing love for people, puts “normal” folks to shame.

AMEN!

 

[djrakowski]

I have a child with autism. And while I admit that he’s a gift from God, I have to also admit he can be very trying too.

I’m totally with you, believe me. Raising kids with autism is more than a full-time job.

We have two children with autism, and they’re the greatest blessings we’ve ever received, and also our most significant challenges. It is in how weve responded to these children that God has shown us our greatest strenghts (and most debilitating weaknesses), and He’s worked good out of this situation by drawing us both closer to Him.

 

[Eileen_T]

Why would a benevolent God allow humans to have Down syndrome?

To show us lesser mortals what He meant when He told us we had to “Love God and love our neighbour.”

Love, forgiveness, trust, sweetness…DS is not a disability so much as a blessing. My brother was God’s greatest gift to our family, he shows us the Heart of God. He has taught us so much and is a constant source of joy.

He has saved us from being so superficial that we only consider the outer shell of a person without considering the person within.