I believe we are all born whole, and that no life is less worthy than another.
I believe that what makes us fully human is that intangible, mysterious essence within us and it has nothing to do with physical or intellectual ability, the number of chromosomes we carry, how we look, what we produce or achieve in the course of our lives.
I worry about a future where scientific ‘progress’ means that no babies are born that don’t conform to societal standards of what is normal.
I am fearful of a world in which all Down’s syndrome babies are aborted and parents encouraged to try again – as suggested by Richard Dawkins not so long ago.
For such a world would be not only poorer in diversity but also more intolerant, cruel and divisive.
That’s not a world I want to live in, nor would I ever wish for such a world for my children, grandchildren and future descendants.
I believe that just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is ugliness and the perception of what is normal.
It’s all a matter of perception and perceptions can, and do, change.
What’s ugly to you is beautiful to someone else; what’s strange, freakish and hideous to one is perfectly normal to another.
Ultimately, we all have a choice in how we look at things. If you look for ugly, that’s what you’ll find.
If you look for beauty, you will find beauty in places, beings and things you never imagined.
Born Whole 
Jenny- this was so beautiful it made me cry. I wish all people felt like you and shared your view. I was encouraged to think more than a few times about keeping our son. It was never an option not to bring this beautiful being into this world of beauty, which I continue to look for and share with him and our daughter all around us. Thank you for your beautiful writing that touched my soul. I’m not one to love technology, however I love that we can connect and find one another even though we live miles apart. This is the good that can come with technology.
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Jeni, thank you so much for your heartfelt feedback, and I’m so happy to hear that my writing resonates with you. There’s a lovely book called “I wish I’d known…how much I’d love you” that brings together a collection of beautiful stories about cleft children and their parents. If you haven’t already seen it, I can strongly recommend it.
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Hi Jenny, thanks for the book tip. I have never heard of this one. It looks great. I’m looking forward to reading it.
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Perfectly written! Brava dear soul sister!
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Thank you Susan. This is something I first wrote when we were in Glastonbury.
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I can tell! I thought so the energy is different, very holistic spiritual view.
Xx
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Brava Jenny! I couldn’t agree more.
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