Articles
The Ultimatum: A Child with Down Syndrome or His Wife
The Ultimatum: A Child with Down Syndrome or His Wife
Brett Petrillo
Samuel Forrest was put in perhaps the most difficult situation he has ever been in. About a year ago his wife, Ruzan, gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Leo. However, when the doctors took a closer look they informed Samuel that Leo had Down syndrome. Despite the difficulties this presented, the beaming father replied, “He's beautiful -- he's perfect and I'm absolutely keeping him.” The wife, however, felt huge cultural pressure and decided she did not want to keep the child. So, she left Samuel with a choice, either put the child in an orphanage, or she would leave him. He chose the child, and Ruzan filed for divorce.
After moving back to his home country of New Zealand, Samuel received great love and support. Three weeks later, the single dad received a Skype call from Ruzan and he reluctantly spoke with her. They agreed to meet and for the first time ever Ruzan held baby Leo. Today the whole family is back together. Ruzan gave a sobering admission, “At first I was very, very scared because I didn't know what Down syndrome was like. Doctors said he would be like a vegetable. It was very scary. I think I was also very selfish…I love him [Leo] very much. One year ago, I couldn't imagine life with him and now, I can't really imagine my life without him. He's changed me so much. I can say I'm a different person now” (Yahoo).
While it is sad and horrible that Ruzan would make the choice to give up her child to begin with, thankfully she came to her senses. This isn’t the first time a parent had to decide what to do with a child. One particular occasion comes to mind. This child was flawed and ugly. This child was blemished and defiled. This child was riddled with imperfections and was hopeless. This child was you…and me.
Thankfully, God did not abandon us. Instead, He offered to adopt us as His children. Paul explains, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:15-17).
Let us praise the Lord for allowing us to be His children when we became Christians (Galatians 3:26-27; Acts 2:38). Let us exalt the Lord for loving us when we had made ourselves so hard to love (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Let us honor Him for forgiving and looking past all of our flaws and imperfections (Luke 15:11-32). Let us serve Him for the rest of our lives as thankful children.
