Doctors Tell Mom Down Syndrome Baby Is Useless, Girl Proves Them Wrong 33 Years Later

By Loren Eaton February 20, 2018 at 9:51am

The tiny nation of Iceland made headlines last year for almost eliminating Down syndrome within its borders. It was a chilling admission, because the much-maligned genetic disorder isn’t hereditary — and the only way to truly “prevent” it is to abort unborn children.

Viewing Down syndrome as little better than a death sentence isn’t a new phenomenon. Cambridge, England, resident Mirka Anderson learned that more than three decades ago.

When Mirka left her native Poland and immigrated to England, she was pregnant and didn’t go through all of the normal health screenings.

So when she gave birth to her daughter, Emma, at Rosie Hospital, she was in for a shock.

“The consultant told me and my then husband she had Down’s Syndrome,” Mirka told Cambridge News. “She said, ‘You don’t have to take her home because she won’t do anything anyway.’”

Floored by the news and the medical professional’s flippant attitude, the new mother refused to abandon her baby. In fact, as Emma grew, Mirka fought to have her receive an ordinary education.

And you know what? Emma flourished, eventually earning a General Certificate of Secondary Education in art.

“When she was younger, we were told she couldn’t go to a normal playgroup with other children,” Mirka explained to the Royston Crow.

“I pushed for her to go to the mainstream group, and in the end, she did.

“I am from communist Poland, so we are used to jumping red tape. Throughout her schooling, all I asked for was for her to be given a chance.”

Her persistence paid off. In 2005, a staffer at Cambridge Regional College, where Emma was attending at the time, entered some of her art in a competition at the prestigious Tate Modern art gallery — and it won.

Emma was one of only two students to have her art hung in the world-renowned museum.

“It was very damaging as a mother who had just given birth to be told your baby is a useless piece of flesh,” Mirka said.

“Look at her now. She’s a super kid.”

After hearing about Emma’s development, a spokesman for Rosie Hospital said, “We are extremely surprised and concerned to hear about these comments, and we would, even though it is over 33 years ago, invite Mrs. Anderson to contact us to discuss her experience.

“We are, of course, delighted to see Emma’s achievement of having her artwork displayed at the Tate Modern.”

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Loren Eaton

Contributor, Lifestyle

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A graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in literature, Loren also adores language. He has served as assistant editor for Plugged In magazine and copy editor for Wildlife Photographic magazine.

A graduate of Wheaton College with a degree in literature, Loren also adores language. He has served as assistant editor for Plugged In magazine and copy editor for Wildlife Photographic magazine. Most days find him crafting copy for corporate and small-business clients, but he also occasionally indulges in creative writing. His short fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies and magazines. Loren currently lives in south Florida with his wife and three children.

Education

Wheaton College

Location

Florida

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English

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Entertainment, Faith, Travel