Blessed by special children - Letters to the Editor - Letter to the Editor

Medical Laboratory Observer, March, 2003

I enjoyed your article about your nephew Ben very much. I think that you and your family will need Ben as much as he needs you.

--Nancy Riggins, BS, MT (ASCP) Specialist, Quality Assurance Providence Hospital Washington, D.C.

I was just looking at the January MLO and read your column about Ben. I saw his picture and had to read it, as my daughter, Lia, also has Down Syndrome. He is such a cute baby. My daughter having DS has made us all better people.

We have gone from total devastation to absolute joy over her. She was diagnosed with leukemia at 20 months old and suffered greatly, but she still made everyone smile. Our kids need all the positive PR they can get, as they are wonderful children, and most people just don't get it, unless they personally know a person with DS. My daughter has a favorite Jay Jay video with the lesson: "It's not what you can't do, but what you can do, that counts." That is so true. You will be so amazed at all Ben will do.

--Nancy Tarbox, MT Huron Regional Medical Center Huron, SD

Celia, thank you so much for your column about your nephew, Benjamin. The title grabbed me, and as I read, I was so thankful--that l stopped turning pages and read it--that you wrote it--and that with the 30th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision, the value of life is again professed publicly. May we learn and remember that all life is precious--dare we say sacred?--and that if only those who are perfect were selected to survive, the race would soon die out! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!

--Ruth Christensen Riverside, CA

Celia, I just read the editorial in the January MLO and want to thank you (on many levels!). As you are already aware, your family will be blessed with the life of this little guy. As for the hearing loss, just wanted to let you know I learned when my precious little daughter was six months old (she's now 18) that she had a profound hearing loss. Emily's deafness is a frustration and inconvenience at times, but has never stopped her from being a vibrant, interesting, funny, kind, wonderful human being. It's just part of what makes her Emily! Thanks again.

--Janet McKibben, MT(ASCP) Hematology Supervisor

Pathologists Associated Muncie, IN