Alaskan columnist Effie Caldarola wrote it up and I read it in my church paper, the Arlington Catholic Herald. I couldn't find it online:
Over a month ago, her office announced that the 44-year-old and her husband, Todd, were expecting their fifth child in May. It was a secret the beguiling brunette, a runner, managed to keep from even her staff.
Then, April 18, she surprised us again by giving birth a month early to Trig Palin, 6 pounds, 2 ounces. In true Sarah fashion, her amniotic fluid leaked in Texas, she gave a speech at a Republican Governors Association convention as scheduled anyway, and then returned to Alaska to deliver.
Immediately the family made this announcement: "Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives."
Trig Palin has Down syndrome. Early prenatal testing alerted the Palins to this chromosomal abnormality, as it is alerting more and more families in the early stages of pregnancy.
Unfortunately, because of early screening, more children with Down syndrome are aborted and fewer and fewer are being born.
Children with Down syndrome do bring "unspeakable joy" into this world. I know the laughter and blessings my 5-year-old nephew, Ethan, with Down syndrome, has brought to our family. But how do you explain this joy to a perfection-at-any-price world?
Politicians rarely help. How many politicians are ever called upon to really walk the walk in their lives?
....Palin, a politician who has been eloquent in her defense of life before birth, has now proven with her own life how much she truly "walks the walk."
Thank you, Sarah, for a beautiful witness given to us through a little one whose Norse name, Trig, means "brave victory."
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.
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What a beautiful
May 20, 2008 - 07:05 ET by motherbeltWhat a beautiful story! God bless them all!
I'm not surprised that the MSM ignored it. They are only interested in the "heartbreak" caused by a "tragic decision" to abort.
Kathy McMorris-Rodgers
May 20, 2008 - 07:23 ET by KrisWhat a great story! Congresswoman Kathy McMorris-Rodgers of Washington State also gave birth to a baby that she knew was going to have Down Syndrome. His name is Cole and Kiran Chetry did a story on Kathy, her husband and little Cole last year on CNN's American Morning. I was very surprised that the story centered mostly on the joy and beauty of little Cole and what he would bring to his family. Kiran also emphasized the staggering statistics when she told of how 90% of babies who are diagnosed with Down Syndrome with early pre-natal testing in the womb are terminated. She went to Capitol Hill and interviewed the Rodgers family and even held little Cole. Later, Kiran questioned Sanjay Gupta about the ethics of all of this early testing, saying "where do we draw the line?" She seemed surprisingly unsettled by modern medicine's obvious goal of genetic perfection. She didn't react like the average liberal when it comes to matters such as this. Maybe she's got a wee bit of sense after all.
Sarah Palin for VP!
May 20, 2008 - 07:18 ET by ballwana13I still say that there are few that could add more to McCain's ticket acting as VP than Sarah Palin.
Obviously she has her hands full with 5 kids and the youngest being an infant, but she would bring youth, pro-life, pro-gun conservative principles to the ticket that few could add as well. This is the type of example of pro-life support that the GOP needs. Thanks Gov. Palin for sticking to life.
Beautiful
May 20, 2008 - 07:31 ET by Kathleen McKinleyIn a world where we don't seem to value life at all, this gives me great hope. God's blessings on Sarah and her family. What an inspiration to all of us.
Family Experience
May 20, 2008 - 07:43 ET by kiwikitI've a cousin who was born with Down Syndrome in 1937, after his very young mother contracted German Measles during her pregnancy. He went to private Catholic school until he was 15 when his abilities were about those of a fifth grader. He was a great asset to the whole family: extremely loving and sweet. After leaving school he was able to work in various places: in the family business doing filing and answering phones; and for Pennsylvania and Massachusetts programs specializing is such employees. The whole family was enhanced by his presence from his birth through his death of Alzheimers in his mid-fifties. It breaks my heart to think about how many of today's families are missing this wonderful experience.
Beautiful is also
May 20, 2008 - 17:32 ET by BobAnthonyThe way to describe Mrs. Palin--she is one fine mother (if you know what I mean ;)!
She was a beauty queen--no shocker, but she could also hit a long range jumper from the key as a basketball player.
We conservatives have it good when it comes to women, Governor Palin, Michelle Malkin, Mary Katherine Ham, Debbie Schlussel, Ann Coulter, etc.
You know when I was born, it wasn't with Down's, but borderline Autism. And my mom, as liberal/left of center as she is, WOULD NEVER EVER HAVE ABORTED ME even if in the early 1970's the medical community had talked about Autism, the way it is now these days.
I wish the Palins all the best in wherever life takes them...and maybe just maybe to The White House.
Ommission
May 20, 2008 - 08:17 ET by tostlundThe AP did a story on May 3rd that treated this pretty well. They did get in some info on the Governor raising taxes on the oil industry in Alaska so as to make her out as not too conservative.
Leadership by example
May 20, 2008 - 08:31 ET by BodiniLeadership by example could never be better diplayed than the way Gov. Palin chose to do so.
Sadly, liberal politicos and the dinosaur media seize every opportunity to shove the 4000 military lives lost in the war in Iraq in our face while never blinking at the 40,000,000 babies aborted in the US since 1973. As a retired serviceman, I will never diminish the sacrifice our soldiers and their families have made, nor can I, as a father and grandfather, ignore an entire generation lost to liberal judges who chose to legalize genocide in the guise of "women's rights."
Pro-choice ... before conception! Bodini
shes no hypocrite
May 20, 2008 - 08:36 ET by shawn228Even though I back the decision to have a choice on if you want to continue your pregnancy after finding out your baby might have downs or some other serious birth defect, Sarah Palin sticks up for prinicipals and leads by example. It also shows much character.
I can't stop tearing up at
May 20, 2008 - 08:38 ET by HypocriteHaterI can't stop tearing up at this story! What an inspirational couple who truly deserve a special place in heaven.
and therefore no place in
May 20, 2008 - 16:52 ET by TruthMongerand therefore no place in the MSM:)
God Bless Them
May 20, 2008 - 09:38 ET by KC MulvilleObama talks about his ideal Supreme Court candidates and says he’s looking for someone to show compassion and empathy, and to stick up for the helpless. And yet, he’s one of the most determined supporters of abortion, which is nothing but the termination of lives like this.
This governor shows the difference. God bless her.
Sarah Palin would make a
May 20, 2008 - 09:45 ET by Dan The Man 2Sarah Palin would make a great VP.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Beautiful woman, inside and
May 20, 2008 - 09:49 ET by ladyrvtBeautiful woman, inside and out.
I've known a few DS kids in my lifetime too, and I'm convinced that the extra chromosome is a "love" gene. Trig sure knows how to pick his family, eh?
ladyrvt, you read my mind
May 20, 2008 - 17:56 ET by BobAnthonyMy mom always tells me you choose your parents. Guess she's not the only one saying that.
I have an uncle who has DS
May 20, 2008 - 09:53 ET by taterI have an uncle who has DS and have met those who also have it and I can say they are the most loving, caring, trusting people in the world. They may not be perfect in society's eyes but you can be sure they would be the first ones to get into heaven.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
Conservatives
May 20, 2008 - 12:37 ET by JDWConservatives are religious. As a result they realize everyone has a place in our world.
JDW
If you mention ANWR it means you don't care about the environment but when congress says ANWR it means you don't care about the gasoline prices
Predicted lib attacks on Gov. Palin
May 20, 2008 - 13:11 ET by nkviking75If it hasn't already happened, here's the coming lib attack on this topic:
1) What a selfish woman for indulging in a risky pregnancy at her age.
2) What a selfish woman for condeming the baby to a life of suffering and depravation.
3) She probably got pregnant for the good publicity.
Wait for it.
God bless that wonderful family.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
A reflection of love
May 20, 2008 - 15:15 ET by WingletDriverI have a friend with a severely handicapped child who is blind, deaf and can't speak. When he discusses him, he always talks about how by holding him he can feels his child's love. It just makes me think that so-called handicapped people are a prism for God's love and a reflection of your own love--much more than most of us.
WD... Now that gives one
May 20, 2008 - 15:27 ET by bigtimerWD...
Now that gives one reflection and something to think deeply about...thanks for posting this.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Gov. Palin has set an
October 9, 2008 - 10:45 ET by caballoswebGov. Palin has set an outstanding example of what it means to embrace humanity, regardless of the consequences.
My appreciation and prayers go out to the Palin family.
I'm sure that many of the female pols in DC could take a lesson from Gov. Palin. Maybe their poll numbers might go up. But, IMO, none of them are concerned with anyone other than themselves - what a waste.
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