Isaiah 49:1 reads, “Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother`s womb, he named me.” This verse tells us that God knows how important the unborn are, but there are still many people who believe abortion is okay. Some people choose abortion if they find out their child is going to be disabled.

I have three siblings with disabilities. I have a brother, Michael, and a sister, Bobbi, who both have Down Syndrome and are fourteen. I also have a brother, John, who has cerebral palsy and a significant intellectual disability. My parents adopted Bobbi and John out of orphanages in Bulgaria. Their birth parents could have chosen abortion, but they didn`t. Because they chose life, I have two awesome siblings.

Ever since I learned what the terms abortion and pro-life meant, I considered myself pro-life. When I learned how many unborn babies with disabilities are aborted and I read the statistics, that made me even more pro-life. My brother John is one of the happiest people I know, even though he can`t walk. When I hang out with him, whether it`s passing a ball or reading a book, John is happy and content. He always makes me laugh. John has lots of friends at his school. They send him home hand-drawn cards in his backpack. Sometimes, at home or at church, he`ll say something random, making everyone laugh. My dog will run up to him and lick him. My dog loves him so much. John makes a happy impact wherever he goes.

In a study from 2023, it said between 67% and 85% of babies with Down Syndrome in the United States were aborted (Chaiken et al.). Research shows that people choose abortion when they get a prenatal diagnosis. Unlike cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome can be diagnosed before a baby's birth, using a prenatal test. This increases abortion rates. They're afraid of having a child with Down Syndrome, and they're afraid of how the child would impact their lives. A study done in 2011 asked people with Down Syndrome that were over the age of twelve if they were happy with their lives. Nearly 99% of the people surveyed said they were happy with their lives and 96% liked how they looked (Stotko et al.). Another study done in 2012 asked parents of children with Down Syndrome whether they were proud of their child or not. 97% responded that they were proud of their son or daughter. 79% of the parents responded that their outlook on life was more positive because of their child with Down Syndrome (Stotko et al.).

My brother Michael wants to go to college, have a job, and live independently. He practices basketball everyday because he hopes to make the high school team. He is also an altar server, and he is involved in our parish youth group. Bobbi makes friends with everyone, and she is a talented dancer and swimmer. Bobbi and I are very close, and she is one of my best friends.

I have several friends who aren`t pro-life. One of my old friends once clutched her stomach, as if sick, and said, “I don`t know what I would do if I had one.” She wasn`t talking about a baby in general, but a baby with a disability. What she said hurt. I didn`t say anything then, and I debated about saying something for days, but in the end I never did.

I should have told her that she shouldn`t even think that. I should have said, if she did have a child with a disability, she would love them with her entire heart. I would have told her there are some people who believe disabled people are a burden, but that`s not true. I`d say all people matter and bring joy to God and others, and He made each and every person, unborn or born, with a plan.

Works Cited

Chaiken, Sarina R, et al. “Association Between Rates of Down Syndrome Diagnosis in States With vs Without 20-Week Abortion Bans From 2011 to 2018.” National Library of Medicine, 21 March 2023, Association Between Rates of Down Syndrome Diagnosis in States With vs Without 20-Week Abortion Bans From 2011 to 2018 - PMC

Skotko, Brian G, et al. “Self-perceptions from People with Down Syndrome.” National Library of Medicine, 9 September 2011, Self-perceptions from People with Down Syndrome - PMC

Skotko, Brian G, et al. “Having a Son or Daughter with Down Syndrome: Perspectives from Mothers and Fathers.” National Library of Medicine, 1 October 2012, Having a Son or Daughter with Down Syndrome: Perspectives from Mothers and Fathers - PMC