Down Syndrome---Love knows no boundaries

Recently, I heard of a heart touching story about an American family adopting a Chinese abandoned child with Down syndrome. I’ve seen many real-life examples of unconditional love before this, but it really makes me understand what love without limits and conditions is. I really hope this story can raise public awareness of birth defects as well as prenatal check-up when it comes to babies with Down syndrome, I also want all to hear: Babies with Down syndrome are not the problems to be fixed, they are children to be loved, just like everyone else.

Angela, a mother of four in Kentucky, decided to adopt a child from China last year and was matched with Rosie Ru, a 4-year-old girl diagnosed with Down syndrome and abandoned by her biological parents at an orphanage in Hunan, China. 

Through her blogs---Adoption China Trip Motherhood, I can see what she and Rosie have experienced, highs and lows, laughter and tears on this adoption trip in China. “It's funny. Sometimes she looks more like a 2-year-old. Then other times, like in the photo below, she looks like a little girl. I can't wait to watch this girl blossom and grow,” Angela wrote.

The amazing job Angela and her family, as well as some children from other adoption community have done of preparing Rosie for welcoming ceremony, have ignited mounting enthusiasm among followers of Angela’s social network account. Compliments and praise words keep pouring in, made Rosie an Internet celebrity in an instant.

What is Down Syndrome?

Down Syndrome, also called Trisomy 21 is a disorder caused by the presence of an extra 21st chromosome. The symptoms of Down syndrome vary from person to person, common signs include: different degree of mental retardation, visual and hearing impairment, and other health problems.

How is Down Syndrome Diagnosed? 

Although the cause of DS is not clear and there’s no effective way to cure it, but it can be detected before the baby is born. According to Dr. Clemence, at Guangzhou Elizabeth Women’s Hospital, there are two types of tests that can check for Down syndrome during pregnancy: a prenatal screening test, and a prenatal diagnostic test.

For most parents-to-be, Down Syndrome is still a word that strikes terror into their heart, producing a deep sense of powerlessness. For those children with Down syndrome, it is one of birth defects. As mentioned above, however, Angela filled the gap with care and love in the rest of Rosie’s life. As a Chinese saying goes: Love knows no boundaries.

For more information: Down Syndrome---Love knows no boundaries