GainesvilleMoms.com

The parents of this little one have received a backlash from their community for pursuing plastic surgery for their down's syndrome child.

Here is a quote that I pulled from this story:
"Society is not going to change overnight – so Georgia has to fit into society, rather than society fitting into the way she is," she said.

I think that it is so important to surround your family with your own little support group so that you know what? Who cares what "society" thinks. The people who love you and your family WILL fit into the way your child is because they love them.

I would seriously consider plastic surgery for a child if there were something really bothering them about the way they looked. But let me make this point, I would wait until they were older and could really make a decision with me as the parent about the surgery. (Oh, and boobs don't count!) It'd probably have to be something that was wrong as opposed to just not very well-liked. So, having said that, I think 5 is way too young for this.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,336432,00.html

I don't have issues with the tongue being done - if it makes it easier for her to breathe and eat. And the family is right - no one would scream if a "normal" child has it's ears pinned back so that would be ok too with me. However - the eyes?? I feel that was totally uncalled for. Changing your child's appearance isn't going to make them any more capable of doing things. Depending on the degree of disability of the down's child - it's not going to make her able to work a high end job, go to college, not be teased in school, etc. It might make the parents feel better because their child looks "normal" but certainly isn't going to take the down's away!!! I don't think there is a person on this earth who would say they are happy with EVERY little thing they see in the mirror of themselves. We have just become a fix it with surgery country and not learn to love people for who/what they are/look like. Sad way to live!!!!

I definitely agree with you about the tongue thing. As far as the other things, can you imagine if we tried to make everyone happy with our appearances? We'd never be happy ourselves.

This topic rubs me the wrong way, I agree with the tongue for feeding and breathing issues but if the child eats and breathes, fine , don;t fix what's not broken. Suzy , you are right, who cares what people think, I know the world is cruel and kids are kids, but they will pick on kids regardless even if the child doesn't have a disablity. I will teach my son to hold his head up high and to take things with some salt or sugar depending on what is said or done. I cannot allow society to dictate what looks normal or what normal is. My son is normal, children born without his disablity develop cancer, etc. That is not the norm to me, these disease that are taking our children is what is not norm, not what the kids look like or act like. Unless the child is a killer or rapest then to me that truly is not norm.