My Experience with Prejudice Against Children; with Down Syndrome.

In a very personal way, I could identify with a recent story in the Washington Post that discussed how routinely medical personnel speak negatively when a prenatal diagnosis suggests a child may have Down syndrome.

In 2002, I was about 21 weeks along with our second child. During a routine ultrasound, when the technician reached my son's neck and spine, she kept checking the area and doing measurements.

My husband looked at me with a question in his eyes. He knew that because I worked at National Right to Life, I was used to seeing ultrasounds. He wanted to know if I saw anything that was wrong. I didn't.

But at our follow-up visit to the obstetrician, we were told that there was a chance our son, Peter, had Down syndrome. Apparently, he had a marker that was considered a strong indicator.

Our doctor scheduled a visit with a group practice of perinatologists affiliated with our local hospital. We would go and have a more thorough ultrasound that could be evaluated by an expert.

We were upset, naturally, and worried about short- and long- term decisions we would have to make about our son's care, if he had Down's. We told our 3 1/2 year-old daughter, who was very much looking forward to having a baby brother, that he might be very special.

But through it all, there was never any question or reservation about the course of action. Peter was our little boy whom we would love no matter what.