Not worthy to live? Hardly

This is a story of love, hope and fulfillment. It is about a young woman named Kathleen who is a testament to courage, devotion and tenacity.

It is a story about the family who lavished her with affection and encouragement, helping her overcome what many view as a handicap that makes life not worth living.

Kathleen has Down syndrome. Today, 90 percent of babies who are diagnosed with Down syndrome before birth are aborted. Many of those born with this genetic disorder, if not most, are institutionalized or kept hidden in the shadows.

When Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was nominated by Sen. John McCain to be his candidate for vice president, she recently had given birth to her son Trig, also with Down syndrome, whom she called “my beautiful baby boy.”

Many were outraged that she had brought this child into the world, chastising her for condemning him to a life of misery and despair. According to them, she should have aborted him and spared him the torment they are certain he will experience.

But as I considered what they had to say, I could not help but think of Kathleen, a 28-year-old vibrant and radiant bundle of love and cheerful exuberance.

When Kathleen was born, her mother was counseled by her doctor to have her institutionalized. He said she likely would die young, suffer from heart problems and various illnesses, and never learn to do more than the simplest of tasks.

Kathleen’s family would not hear of it. They raised her, as much as possible, as they would any other child. They told her she could accomplish whatever she set out to do. They refused to limit her opportunities or hide her from the world.

Today, Kathleen is a champion swimmer who coaches other handicapped children, and as an accomplished skier, she is hoping to get on the slopes one day soon. For the past 10 years she has been a volunteer teacher’s aide in a kindergarten class, has a part time job in her brother’s company and lives a life of dignity and, in her own way, achievement, cherished by her family and those who know her.

Her brother says that when she is assigned a task and clearly understands it, there is no doubt that it will be accomplished. She may proceed slowly, but she does so with determination and focus. She can read and write and do simple arithmetic, speaks quickly and communicates well. Clearly, she has mastered more than the simplest of tasks and hopes one day to learn to drive.

When Kathleen’s mother took her along to her college reunion, among her mother’s former classmates were students from Colombia. To her mother’s amazement, Kathleen began speaking to them in Spanish. It seems that the majority of the children in her kindergarten class speak Spanish, and she had learned from them.

The story of Kathleen illustrates a fundamental divide in American culture. On one side are the oddly self-described “progressives,” with their dreary, pessimistic and life-denying view of the world and humanity, who attach more importance to an eagle’s egg than an unborn child.

On the other side are those who embrace the traditional and foundational principles of American greatness, who view life as a sacred and awesome thing, treasure liberty and seek to unleash the human spirit to accomplish whatever it may.

Kathleen was fortunate to be born into a family who saw her not as a burden but as a blessing from God deserving of their love and devotion.

When Sarah Palin stepped onto the national stage, her Down syndrome baby became a living affront to all of those who diminish the value of human life. His very existence infuriates them. To them, giving birth to “my beautiful baby boy” was nothing less than a criminal act, damning him to a hell on earth.

But Kathleen stands as a rebuke to them, attesting to the endless possibilities of human life. Her story is one that no doubt can be told of many whose families ignored the admonitions of those who said their children were not worthy to live, would never contribute to society and should be spared the misery of a life ruined because of a genetic disorder.

Kathleen reflects the love of God embodied in a family who views life as a gift from Him and received her birth with joy rather than despair. If there were more Kathleens and families like hers, how much better would the world be?

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