Couple with Down syndrome decide to have children, face criticism

However, the likelihood that two people with Down syndrome can have a child is lower than that of other couples because it’s rare for a man with Down syndrome to father a child.

When Patti White heard that a grandchild was on its way, she was very surprised – but she stood completely behind her daughter Lisa and her decision to keep the child.

At 29 years old, Lisa had her own apartment and she worked full time at
the local Goodwill store. She had been living on her own for 11 years.

“She got along with everyone. “She could do everything except the cash register. She liked it there and they liked her,” Patti told Voice in 2016.

Lisa had also started a relationship with a man with Down syndrome, they dated but lived in separate houses. Patti understood her daughter had a healthy adult relationship – they also discussed things like birth control and safe sex.

“At the time all the books said males with Down syndrome were sterile and people told us not to worry about it as they couldn’t get pregnant,” Patti said.

But fate had other plans.

Patti had just returned from lunch at work and was listening to the message on her voice mail. She then had a message from an excited Lisa:

“Hi mum, I just wanted you to know you are going to be a GRANDMOTHER!” Patti says, “My mind went in all directions. How could this be? Her boyfriend has Downs!”

Lisa’s decision to have the child was criticized by outsiders as irresponsible and selfish and her ability to be a good mother was also questioned. But her family was very supportive and protected their daughter.

Lisa, a well-articulated and passionate person, had a common pregnancy in several ways. She went to childbirth classes, had a pregnancy coach, and had all the typical symptoms.

“It was hard for me to walk around when I was pregnant, I was working five days a week. I had morning sickness and I wasn’t feeling good. I felt like I was going to throw up,” Lisa told Voice.

However, her pregnancy was considered high risk and treated like that. Lisa’s son Nic was born 4 weeks early and, like his parents, had Down syndrome.

Nic’s father was present at his birth, and the new parents tried to live under one roof around Nic’s birth. But, unfortunately, it didn’t work. Sadly, Nic’s father passed away when Nic was 5.

Nic, who is now 24 years old and an handsome young man, was raised by his mom and grandmother, who both couldn’t be prouder of him.

Having children is always a risk for everyone involved, and Lisa was particularly vulnerable – not least because many had opinions about her decision to become a mother.