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Candi Pickard, CEO of the National Down Syndrome Society, responds to YouTuber Jesse Ridgeway's comments that raising a child with Down syndrome is "not a blessing.".
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Ridgeway recently announced that he and his wife, Ashley, had made the "difficult decision" to terminate their pregnancy after the fetus was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
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Picard, whose son has Down syndrome, says she "strongly disagrees" with his opinion.
National Down Syndrome Society CEO Candy Pickard has responded to Jesse Ridgeway's recent comments that Down syndrome is "not a blessing.".
In a series of posts on Ridgeway's Instagram Stories on Wednesday, June 3, the YouTuber revealed that he and his wife, Ashley, 31, made the "difficult decision" to terminate their pregnancy after the fetus was diagnosed with Down syndrome.
In a statement, Ridgeway, 33, said the diagnosis was "not a blessing," adding that the chromosomal disorder was "objectively horrific from a health perspective" and "difficult" for the child and their family.
Speaking to PEOPLE about Ridgeway's comments, Picard, whose 14-year-old son Mason has Down syndrome, said she disagreed with his point of view.
«"When [Jessie] says Down syndrome is not a blessing, I, as a parent, strongly disagree," Picard says.
«"There are statistics from people with Down syndrome, as well as from their families, that show that 99% people with Down syndrome are happy with their lives and who they are," she continues. "99% families say they love their children and are proud of them. I think this is valuable information that is important to understand.".
Influencer Jesse Ridgeway and his wife, Ashley. Photo: Jesse Ridgeway/Instagram
Picard acknowledges that the diagnosis can be "scary" for parents. However, she says it's important for families to "have the right and accurate information to make their own decisions.".
Echoing her sentiment, Dr. Ebony January, a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist, author, and women's health advocate, told PEOPLE that a Down syndrome diagnosis can often be "very emotionally devastating for a family.".
She says her work strives to provide accurate medical information and help families find the right specialists. "I don't believe situations like these should be reduced to headlines, comments, or even just moral debates," Dr. January tells PEOPLE. "Not everyone is prepared to address certain issues, so we need to make sure they understand those issues. It's not the same story.".
Dr. January says she aims to provide families with the information they need while avoiding "fear-based counseling.".
«"It's more about reassuring them and helping them find the resources they need," says Dr. January. "The most important thing is to be compassionate in all interactions.".
Dr. January adds that doctors have no way to determine the severity of the diagnosis during pregnancy.
«"Some people lead practically normal lives. This is a constant feature of society, and I'm very pleased to see people with a diagnosis who can work," she says. "And then there are those who may have various illnesses, hearing problems, heart defects, so they have to see doctors frequently.".
Candi Pickard and her son Mason. Photo: National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).
In his initial announcement, Ridgeway said the list of health risks that can be associated with Down syndrome, including heart defects, hearing problems and delayed physical development, played a role in the couple's decision to terminate the pregnancy.
Picard says many of the conditions associated with Down syndrome can vary, explaining that some hearing problems can be improved with tubes, vision problems can be treated with glasses, and the survival rate for the most common heart defect is 97 percent.
Dr. January says she always reminds her patients that each person's experience of living with Down syndrome will be unique.
«"Your child may have a heart defect, or they may not. They may have a hearing defect, or they may not. Or they may have a combination of both," she says. "All we can do is tell you about the specific symptoms, signs, and possible consequences, but we can't say for sure whether it will happen.".
Candi Pickard and her son Mason. Photo: National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).
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Regarding her own son's diagnosis, Picard says, "We really wanted to learn more about Down syndrome, and of course, we made the decision as a family, each in our own way.".
«When I talked to families going through this moment during pregnancy, they just wanted to be listened to and understood, and also given the facts so they could talk to their loved ones,» she continues.
Dr. January says the best advice she can give to anyone preparing for the arrival of a baby is to "create your own community.".
She says, "You have to understand that we can't live this life alone.".
Read the original article on People.