March for Life 2012 An Amazing, Whirlwind Weekend

I was honored to have a busy four day whirlwind of a weekend Jan 20-23. Gabbi and I took Amtrak from New London to Washington DC with our friend Tracy Medling who also authored a book called "The Power of Choices" a powerful testimony about her abortion and healing. We were staying at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill so we could run a booth downstairs at the March for Life vendors area to sell our books. It was so exciting arriving in Union Station toting so many books we had to be assisted by a redcap in a golf cart!
Soon Gabbi and I were unpacked and off to the Kennedy Institute for a reception for the speakers of our First Annual Conference on Poor Prenatal Diagnoses and Therapeutic Interventions. I was honored to serve the lasagna and join Dr Byron Calhoun, Dr John Bruchalski and Dr Alberto Costa for dinner. We discussed the new study which states that abortion is safer than giving birth, and how its flawed. I was able to meet Mary Kellett, Nancy Mayer Whittington, Monica Rafie,  and members of the Kennedy Institute which is a center for the developmentally disabled of all ages.
Early on Saturday morning we were at the Family Research Council for the Conference which you can view in its entirety, here.



It was an incomparable learning experience, and even though I'm not a doctor, I was able to follow Dr Byron Calhoun as he described life saving surgeries for anomalies previously called "fatal" and learned that there are so many advances to save unborn babies, we don't have to lose hope just because a child has a poor prenatal diagnosis. I heard stirring testimony from former abortionist turned pro-life obstetrician and director of the Tepeyac Family Center Dr John Bruchalski. His stories of couples who gave birth to their children who, though only living a few moments, bore witness to the beauty and dignity of every human life was powerful. Dr Alberto Costa shared his stunning research findings using Alzheimer's drug Memantine to mitigate the cognitive delays and early onset of Alzheimer's in those with Down syndrome gave tremendous hope to this mother of a daughter with Down syndrome and proved that the Alzheimer's community and Down syndrome community have a lot to teach one another. Dr Laura Toso of the Jerome Lejeune Foundation shared how her career as a physician was inspired by her role model, French geneticist, Dr Jerome Lejeune. Dr David Prentice clarified the confusion between embryonic and adult stem cells and shared information about the 73 treatments which come from adult stem cells, many of which are life saving. No cures have come from embryonic cells at this time. I was inspired by the testimonies of Samuel Armas the baby whose little arm reached out of his mother's womb during a Spina Bifida operation and traveled around the world and Kristal Dahlegher a law student with a disability who testified that she is "God's Unmistaken Creation". Kristen Hawkins shared about her work with Medical Students for Life, two of whom, Robert Weir and Dominique Monlezun presented papers on their research,  and Jeanne Monahan gave a talk entitled, "Challenging the Perception of Perfection and Human Nature. Filmmakers Jordan and Daniel Allott shared a preview of their film. "Flashes of Color: Disability in the Age of Perfection". Which you can view here;


Soon it was my turn to share about my work with KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome) in a panel discussion with Melinda Delahoyde of CareNet, Chris Belll of Good Counsel Homes, Mary Kellett of Pre-natal Partners for Life and Nancy Mayer Whittington of Isaiah's Promise all peer ministries who help mothers who are expecting babies with special needs. It was a time of learning and inspiration which I hope many others will share by viewing this recording.

Gabbi, Leticia and Jeni Stepanek

Leticia signing books at the Basilica  Bookstore

Leticia speaking about KIDS at Family Resource Council

Dr Karen Summar, Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Leticia 

Later that evening, Gabbi and I attended the fundraising dinner for St Joseph House, a respite care home run by Cubby and Dan Lahood of Silver Spring, MD. We had a table right up front and enjoyed the Singing Seminarians and the Faculty Singers from The Heights. We saw a video about Cubby and Dan's amazing apostolate, inspired by the death of their son Francis, a multiply handicapped infant who died minutes after birth, where they care for several developmentally disabled people to give their parents a break. Cubby and Dan bring the people of St Joseph's House to Mass, enjoy splashing in the pool and welcome them to their family table; in fact they and their three children integrate those they care for into every aspect of their lives, and treat them with such tender love I was reminded of a documentary I saw about Blessed Mother Teresa and her loving touch with the disabled. No wonder 300 people had gathered to raise funds for St Joseph House, it is a light to all who encounter it. Nancy Mayer Whittington, who herself lost a daughter soon after birth,  works with the Lahoods on Isaiah's Promise, an apostolate for parents of babies with poor pre-natal diagnoses.
On Sunday the Allott brothers and I discussed their plans to finish "Flashes of Color" and attended the Pro-life Leadership Mass with Cardinal DiNardo presiding. He spoke powerfully about the Obama Administration's HHS mandate that Catholic institutions must pay for contraception. He compared the USA to Ninevah in the Old Testament which was being called to repent by the prophet Jonah. At the reception Gabbi and I were honored to meet Jeni StepanekStepanek and author of the book, "Messenger" a biography of her famous son, best selling poet and spokesman for world peace, Mattie Stepanek. Jeni is a warm and engaging person and I am honored to be reviewing her book shortly.
We met USCCB Pro-life luminaries Richard Dorflinger and Deirdre McQuade, and thanks to our friend Valerie Guilloux of the Jerome Lejeune Foundation USA were able to give EWTN "The World Over" host Raymond Arroyo a copy of "A Special Mother is Born".
Then we rushed to the National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception where I signed my book next to EWTN Show Host Brother Leo, and Bella Producer Jason Jones. Jason was leading a group in support of Rick Santorum for president in the March for Life and  I gave him a Santorum banner to lead their group. Then Gabbi and I attended a reception for Legalworks Apostolate at Catholic University Law School given for Catholic Broadcasters. I signed books for members which included Michael Hichborn of American Life League and EWTN show host Teresa Tomeo. We met our friends the Franciscans of the Immaculate who filmed this interview of me about my book for their video blog AirMaria.com.

KIDS members assemble to march for life

Later on the Metro platform at Catholic University we were serenaded by seminarians from Orlando who sang "Panis Angelicus". If only Washington were this Catholic all year!

On Monday at 7:20 I was on the SonRise Morning Show with Brian Patrick sharing my plans for a gathering of KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome) at 11AM. Gabbi and I attended part of Pro-life Con at Family Research Council watching Dr Gerard Nadal discuss his powerful combination of pro-life apologetics and biology in his writing on his wildly popular blog Coming Home. I met Michael Clancy the photographer who took Samuel Arma's photo and has traveled the world ever since testifying to the dignity of all human life. I was delighted to finally meet Josh Mercer the director of  the wonderful Catholic Vote.

Gabbi and Leticia finish the March for Life at the Capitol

We arrived at the Headquarters of National Right to Life Committee to greet our biggest group of marchers ever, including members of the International Order of the Alhambra,   three Sisters of Charity of our Lady, Mother of the Church, with students from The Academy of the Holy Family, members of Youth with a Mission and our guests of honor Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Dr Karen Summar a developmental pediatrician. Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers shared what she is doing in Congress.  They are pursuing funding the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act, and have introduced two bills, the Centers of Excellence in Down Syndrome Translational Research Act and the Down Syndrome Research Resources Act.  She spoke about how she is connecting with the Alzheimer's research community and how important it was to coordinate research for both Down syndrome and Alzheimer's (because of their close relationship genetically).  She also spoke of the status of the ABLE Act.
We presented Cathy with a beautiful, patriotic hook rug wall hanging with the message "God Bless America," which was made by one of our members, 18-year-old Anna Sheppard who has Down syndrome.
Soon it was time to march for life and KIDS members assembled outdoors for our annual photo since we were too numerous to take a photo indoors. We were greeted by freezing rain but remained steadfast marching up Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court.
Gabbi and I said goodbye to our friends and headed to the Hyatt where my books were selling well. At last the Convention closed and we had a last minute visit to the Sisters of Life stunning pro-life multi media exhibition "You and Me" at the John Paul II Cultural Center.
It was an amazing, evocative exhibit which was the perfect ending to the most amazing weekend of my career! God has granted me so many amazing opportunities to share the joy our special children bring into our lives!

Fourth Annual KIDS Event at March for Life

We are excited to announce plans for the fourth annual KIDS event at the 2012 March for Life in Washington, DC! Once again, we will be meeting at the headquarters of the National Right to Life Committee, just a few blocks from the start of the March. See details at the end of this note for time and location.

We are honored to have Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgersas our special guest for the third year in a row. Cathy is from the state of Washington and has a 4-year-old son, Cole, with Down syndrome. She is a champion for children with special needs in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Participating in the March for Life is like nothing that can be expressed in words; it just has to be experienced! Seeing and being part of the sea of pro-lifers that swarm up Constitution Avenue is so inspiring. Last year it occurred to me that out of all the thousands and thousands of different organizations, parishes, faith communities, high schools, colleges, and pro-life groups that have a presence at the March, our KIDS group may be one of the only, if not the only, group to represent a class of people who are specifically targeted for abortion--those precious unborn babies with Down syndrome.
Now that the new prenatal maternal blood test, MaterniT21, is out on the market, making it even easier to detect Down syndrome earlier in pregnancy, it is even more important for families (and friends) of children with Down syndrome to come together and have a presence at the March for Life, to show the world what a blessing our children (young and adult) are. Please, please, come if you are able! It can be overwhelming to think about driving or taking the Metro into DC with your children, but really, I think sometimes the anticipation of doing it is more overwhelming than actually doing it. If your children are not up walking the entire March, you can do just part of it. But we would so love to see you at the KIDS event!

Here are the details:
Date: Monday, January 23rd
Time: 10:30 - Noon
Location: National Right to Life Committee, 512 10th Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

Special Guest: Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who will arrive at 11:00 a.m.

The National Right to Life Committee generously invites us to use space in their offices and also provides sandwiches and refreshments. So you can have a nice lunch to give you energy for the March! Thank you NRLC!

Please spread the word to anyone you know who has a family member with Down syndrome, or anyone who has a heart for individuals with Down syndrome. If there is another Down syndrome group who will be participating, we invite them to join us. We hope to see you in a few weeks! (It would be helpful to let us know if you are coming, just so we can get an estimate of how many to expect. Also, we would like to give more details (cell phone numbers, parking directions, etc.))

Eileen and Leticia

http://keepinfantswithdownsyndrome.blogspot.com/

Here's my post from last year's event.

Cooperating with an Act of God: The Historic #TurnpikeMass

Courtesy of Roamin' Catholics.

As the mother of a young lady of 13 who has Down syndrome, I am accustomed to seeing how God's ways are far above our ways. Many times we have stood in awe at what Our Lord accomplishes in our life with our daughter Christina in the privacy of our Domestic Church. That is why I share our little miracles with you, dear reader, to inspire you.

 But sometimes God allows an act of faith to go public. 

That is the case of the now famous Turnpike Mass widely reported, first on social media, then picked up by major news outlets like CNN. Hundreds if not thousands of March for Life participants, most of them youth, were stuck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the rural and rugged Allegheny Mountains region. They did not move for nearly 24 hours and for some, food was growing scarce and help seemed far away. What did these on-fire Catholic Millenials do? They built an altar out of snow and ice and asked their chaplain, Fr Patrick Behm,  to celebrate Holy Mass. 

Fr Behm tried to deflect attention from himself and told the website Church Pop.

 “I was the principal celebrant of the liturgy,” he said, “but credit for the idea, and credit for building the altar, and credit for going around to the various buses inviting people to join them belongs completely to the pilgrims from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, particularly Mr. Bill Dill, their youth minister.”
It was those students from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who built the snow altar: “Those Minnesotans apparently know how to build stuff out of snow!”
The now famous Mass was a powerful spiritual experience for Fr. Behm and everyone else involved.
“It left me with many impressions, but among them was the fact that Jesus enters into the storm. Jesus comes to us, in the storms of our life, and enters in to be with us. He desires to be with His people, and if we respond to this invitation to let Him in, then the message is profound hope and joy.”

The story of the Mass went viral on Facebook then Twitter, and soon local news outlets were reporting not only about the stranded students but that they were coming from the March for Life and that they were praying with exuberance. So,  a secular media which had largely ignored the enormous annual March for Life which took place despite DC being in a state of emergency and blizzard conditions starting before the end of the March, began to cover the #TurnpikeMass, and tangentially,  the #MarchforLife. God's mysterious ways indeed!  It is told that a bus driver stranded with the young people who has participated in an abortion received forgiveness and healing.

Way to cooperate with the Lord of the Universerse, through what is often termed, "an act of God", a blizzard. The Holy Spirit truly acted in the hearts of his youthful worshipers, and made a big impact on the world! Thousands were witness to a moving act of faith in the snowbound mountains of Pennsylvania. Thousands call this a historic event. When we allow God to work in the midst of a crisis,  history is made and hearts are changed for eternity. This sentiment is echoed in a letter from FUS President Fr. Sean Sheridan TOR.

Most of all, however, I am grateful to our Lord Jesus Christ for the good that came out of our situation—the increased media attention brought to the March for Life, the bus driver with another group of marchers who was healed of a past abortion, the witness of the outdoor Masses celebrated by two parishes—and for the good that we will only see in the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, or only when we enter into our heavenly reward.

Watch this moving video from Holy Spirit Church as the crowd sings Matt Maher's "Lord, How I Need You!"
The lyrics are;

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
On a personal note
My daughter Bella was one of the 400 students of Franciscan University of Steubenville who were traveling back from the March for Life. These buses  were stuck a few miles down the Turnpike were not as fortunate as the pilgrims from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin,  and North Dakota,  as their chaplains did not have hosts for Mass. But that did not stop them from praying!! They built and altar anyway and prayed the Rosary Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Liturgy of the Hours. Attitudes on the bus, according to my 18 year old daughter Bella, were mostly positive. The students shared the snacks they brought and kept each other from despairing.
Parents on the FUS Facebook group shared messages of encouragement,  and Mariely M de G a parent who lives in Steubenville, arranged for subway sandwiches to be delivered to the group. The National Guard brought in pizza, and military meals, and dug them out. The students were very grateful for the assistance they provided and to return home at 7:00 AM Sunday morning after nearly 40 hours on the road (normally a 6 hour trip). They had a special Travelers' Mass offered for them in Christ the King Chapel. Here is a local news story about their safe return from the ordeal.

Renee of New Catholic Generation.com made a video about the entire phenomenon and its impact.

Here are some more great stories about the Turnpike Mass.
Patti Armstrong.com
Archdiocese of Omaha
Omaha.com
JournalStar.com
KTSP Minnesota
The Christian Post
LifeSiteNews
CatholicNewsAgency
TheCatholicSpirit
DeaconGregKandra on his Aleteia Blog
Not to mention Teresa Tomeo and Sheila Liaugminas of Relevant Radio
The New York Times

He couldn’t claim credit for the idea of having Mass: “I was the principal celebrant of the liturgy,” he said, “but credit for the idea, and credit for building the altar, and credit for going around to the various buses inviting people to join them belongs completely to the pilgrims from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, particularly Mr. Bill Dill, their youth minister.”
It was those students from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who built the snow altar: “Those Minnesotans apparently know how to build stuff out of snow!”
The now famous Mass was a powerful spiritual experience for Fr. Behm and everyone else involved.
“It left me with many impressions, but among them was the fact that Jesus enters into the storm. Jesus comes to us, in the storms of our life, and enters in to be with us. He desires to be with His people, and if we respond to this invitation to let Him in, then the message is profound hope and joy.
- See more at: http://aleteia.org/blogs/deacon-greg-kandra/the-story-behind-the-turnpike-mass-of-snowmageddon-from-the-priest-who-led-it/#sthash.I1ozbkiE.wlkdchCL.dpuf

He couldn’t claim credit for the idea of having Mass: “I was the principal celebrant of the liturgy,” he said, “but credit for the idea, and credit for building the altar, and credit for going around to the various buses inviting people to join them belongs completely to the pilgrims from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, particularly Mr. Bill Dill, their youth minister.”
It was those students from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who built the snow altar: “Those Minnesotans apparently know how to build stuff out of snow!”
The now famous Mass was a powerful spiritual experience for Fr. Behm and everyone else involved.
“It left me with many impressions, but among them was the fact that Jesus enters into the storm. Jesus comes to us, in the storms of our life, and enters in to be with us. He desires to be with His people, and if we respond to this invitation to let Him in, then the message is profound hope and joy.
- See more at: http://aleteia.org/blogs/deacon-greg-kandra/the-story-behind-the-turnpike-mass-of-snowmageddon-from-the-priest-who-led-it/#sthash.I1ozbkiE.wlkdchCL.dpuf

He couldn’t claim credit for the idea of having Mass: “I was the principal celebrant of the liturgy,” he said, “but credit for the idea, and credit for building the altar, and credit for going around to the various buses inviting people to join them belongs completely to the pilgrims from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, particularly Mr. Bill Dill, their youth minister.”
It was those students from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who built the snow altar: “Those Minnesotans apparently know how to build stuff out of snow!”
The now famous Mass was a powerful spiritual experience for Fr. Behm and everyone else involved.
“It left me with many impressions, but among them was the fact that Jesus enters into the storm. Jesus comes to us, in the storms of our life, and enters in to be with us. He desires to be with His people, and if we respond to this invitation to let Him in, then the message is profound hope and joy.
- See more at: http://aleteia.org/blogs/deacon-greg-kandra/the-story-behind-the-turnpike-mass-of-snowmageddon-from-the-priest-who-led-it/#sthash.I1ozbkiE.wlkdchCL.dpuf

He couldn’t claim credit for the idea of having Mass: “I was the principal celebrant of the liturgy,” he said, “but credit for the idea, and credit for building the altar, and credit for going around to the various buses inviting people to join them belongs completely to the pilgrims from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, particularly Mr. Bill Dill, their youth minister.”
It was those students from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who built the snow altar: “Those Minnesotans apparently know how to build stuff out of snow!”
The now famous Mass was a powerful spiritual experience for Fr. Behm and everyone else involved.
“It left me with many impressions, but among them was the fact that Jesus enters into the storm. Jesus comes to us, in the storms of our life, and enters in to be with us. He desires to be with His people, and if we respond to this invitation to let Him in, then the message is profound hope and joy.
- See more at: http://aleteia.org/blogs/deacon-greg-kandra/the-story-behind-the-turnpike-mass-of-snowmageddon-from-the-priest-who-led-it/#sthash.I1ozbkiE.wlkdchCL.dpuf

Welcome Patheos readers!

If you have come here for the first time via my guest column at Patheos, "No More 'Mental Retardation', So?" Welcome. You have found my online home, the place where Christina and I share her life publicly in order to give people an peak into ordinary life of a family with a child with Down syndrome. To dispel the myths about how difficult this is, and to put a human face on people with Down syndrome. When I was in my 20's we had the example of Corky, a teenager with Down syndrome played by Chris Burke in TV series "Life Goes On" whose mom, played by Patti LuPone, shared the ups and downs of raising a son with some limitations but endless possibilities. Now, thanks to the internet, you have Christina at Cause of Our Joy.

Its a snowy New England morning at sunrise, as the snow falls silently outdoors, and Christina is sleeping beside me, snoring gently. She doesn't know it yet, but today is a snow day. She will be thrilled, she has all day to spend playing in the snow chasing our golden retriever Molly,  or cuddled up with her sisters under blankets on the couch watching our latest family DVD, "Despicable Me". She has learned to imitate the nerdy villain Vector's signature move, swaying her hips as she pulls down her clenched fists saying "Oh YEAH!" It never fails to crack us up.
My toes curl in anticipation of the fun we'll have, but as a writer mom, I have to steal a few precious moments to record the joy. For you, for my distant family members, and for posterity. Christina is an endangered species, and this thought started my writing career in 2005, when she was three.
I had tried to share about being the mother of a child with Down syndrome in other, more personal ways, through my pediatrician, my local hospital, my OB, but my offers to mentor other mothers were met with stony silence. I didn't pretend to offer medical advice, just the everyday stories from one mom to another.

 I remembered how much help Margaret was to me, when as the anxious mother of a newborn with Down syndrome (I had refused pre-natal tests on principle) a priest from my parish phoned me and offered her phone number as a resource. She answered my fevered questions with a calm, matter-of-fact attitude which in itself calmed my fears. Her daughter, Kristin, was a busy, happy 20 year old. She graduated high school, was adored by her 9 siblings, was Godmother to various nieces and nephews, and each day, walked to work in her local bakery, where she bags bread. She never missed a day of work, and was planning a huge 21st birthday party. Life was full of ordinary happiness for this extraordinary young woman.

So, when my attempts to share Christina's story were frustrated, my mother came to the rescue. She gave me a book, "Life is a Blessing" the biography of French geneticist and Servant of God, Dr Jerome Lejeune. It was written shortly after his death by his daughter Clara as a memoir for her newborn daughter, and it became my inspiration. Dr Lejeune discovered in 1958, that Down syndrome was caused by an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. He dedicated the rest of his career as a doctor and researcher to finding a cure for this disorder. Not because he felt that our children were inferior, but because others did, and when abortion was legalized in France, children with Down syndrome became an endangered species. He died in 1994 from cancer, feeling that he was abandoning his patients. Eleven years later, I felt a call to make this legacy known, not just for the promise of a cure from the effects of Trisomy 21, but so that society might learn from his love of our children to value them as they are.

Writing for six years has led to me to Hollywood, where, on the Fox Movie Lot, I attended an opening for "Mr Blue Sky" a film about a young lady with Down syndrome who married a typical man. It brought me to Washington, where, for three years, my friend Eileen and I have led KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome) in the March for Life. This year, I am going to be interviewed for the second time on EWTN(this photo is of Eileen Haupt and I with "Faith and Culture" series hostess, Colleen Carroll Campbell in St Louis this November), as part of the March for Life Coverage. For three years, I have been collecting stories of Catholic famlies who are blessed with a special needs child for a book entitled, "A Special Mother is Born" to be published by WestBow Press this winter. I have published articles on Down syndrome research and Dr Lejeune in various periodicals and websites, and appeared as a guest on podcasts and radio shows. When you say "yes" to God, despite your lack of time and  your keen awareness of your personal shortcomings, He does amazing things. Sometimes, I still have to pinch myself, saying, "Is this really my life?"

But despite all these amazing events, last weekend, an event in New York City, within an hour from where I grew up on Long Island, was the pinnacle of my experience as a writer/advocate. I was able to hear Clara Lejeune Gaymard, the daughter of my hero, Dr Jerome Lejeune, give a talk about her father's life. And afterwards, I was able to interview her for the National Catholic Register. As we completed the interview, Clara shared how although her father's cause for canonization, opened on June 28, 2007 has not had any official cures yet to advance him to beatification, there have been many people whose lives he has profoundly changed after his death. I told her mine as one of them, and the thrill in her eyes, as I told her it was her book and her father's example which inspired me to begin my long delayed writing career, was the greatest honor I have achieved. I met Madame Lejeune, the late doctor's widow, and her other daughter Karin, both of whom warmly embraced me as part of the family. They embraced me first of all because I have a daughter with Down syndrome, then for my contribution to Dr Lejeune's legacy with my article Down Not Out.
Look at this photo of my worn copy of "Life is a Blessing". My mother, Clara, and her mother have all signed it. It is treasured evidence of God's work in my life,and on behalf of our children.
We are a family, those of us who are working to further his legacy and save the children he called his dear little ones.Now the Foundation Lejeuene is opening a branch in the US, in order to help fund over 91 research programs which it supports here. None of these researchers use embryonic stem cells, and many are quite promising.I will keep you posted on the Foundation's progress here, and tell you how to donate.
At the March for Life, I will be hading out thousands of pamphlets with 21 sayings of Dr Lejeune. I will be posting them one by one here.
But I have to stop now. Christina is stirring, and soon another day with her will begin. Thank you for taking time to read this. Look out for news of the publication of my book A Special Mother is Born. Mother Mary Agnes Donovan, Superior of the Sisters of Life wrote an amazing foreword, former Senator Rick Santorum has a chapter about his daughter Bella, and my story of Christina, is accompanied by 31 stories of emotional courage which make me proud to wear the badge of special needs mother. Some are professional writers whom you will recognize, like Barbara Curtis, Jelly Mom Lisa Barker,  and Melissa Wiley. and all are heroes of their domestic church.
Leave me a comment below to say 'hi', and spread the word. Our children are blessings to the world, but first of all to their families.

KIDS will be marching in the March for Life this year!

Let us know if you'll be joining us, and spread the word.
 Eileen Haupt: 802-899-4882
Leticia Velasquez: 860-336-1835

FAMILES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME
TO MARCH TOGETHER IN THE 2011 MARCH FOR LIFE in D.C.
TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF ABORTING
BABIES WITH DOWN SYNDROME

KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome), a group comprised of families who have children with Down syndrome, will meet for the third year in a row and walk together in the 2011 March for Life in Washington, D.C.

DATE & TIME: Monday, January 24, 2011, 11:00 a.m. to Noon

LOCATION: National Right to Life Committee, 512 10th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

PURPOSE: Meet for refreshments prior to walking together in the 2011 March for Life

This event is open to individuals with Down syndrome and their families and friends.

KIDS aims to raise awareness about the tragic 90% abortion rate of babies prenatally diagnosed with Down syndrome, to challenge the misinformation that often leads mothers to abort their babies with Down syndrome, and to proclaim the joy their children bring to their families and communities!

Through the generosity of the National Right to Life Committee, we have a convenient location to congregate, just blocks from the start of the march, and sandwiches and refreshments to enjoy before we join the march.

For more information please contact Eileen Haupt or Leticia Velasquez.

Eileen Haupt Leticia Velasquez

802-899-4882 860-336-1835

vteileen@comcast.net marysjoys@yahoo.com

An Invitation to join us for the March for Life 2009

Last year I casually mentioned to an email correspondant that I wanted to get mothers of children with Down syndrome together to march together in the March for Life. I felt that since our children are the most threatened by abortion, with a rate of 90%, that we ought to represent ourselves as a group. Eileen, who is more of a mover and shaker, loved the idea and then we let it simmer awhile. . .

Then, some things happened.

The New York Times noticed that parents of chidren with Down syndrome were organizing in response to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynocologists recommendation that all pregant women, regardless of age be tested for Trisomy 21. They were right.

A new non-invasive test arrived on the scene promising to eliminate our children with greater accuracy.

Trig Palin hit the scene, and everyone was talking about Down syndrome. My Google Down sydnrome alerts quadrupled overnight, and we had lots of interest in the Buddy Walks this fall.

The Prenatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act was passed and signed Oct 8, 2008 which will give expectant parents proper medical information and referral to support groups and adoption agencies. I credit Trig Palin in part for helping to pass this bill in this article in the National Catholic Register.

SO, since this seems to be the year that we parents of children with Down syndrome are in the spotlight, and as you know, we LOST our advocate, Sarah Palin, in the tragic results of the election. We must take to the streets of Washington, and tell our new president that we will be watching him.
Help us organize and garner media attention, which will be hard on the heels of the Inauguration. Email me at marysjoys@yahoo.com to volunteer to organize your friends and meet us in DC.
We'll be posting the details of when and where we meet, and any symbols, signs, etc, we will be carrying. We are pro-life mothers (and fathers) of children with Down syndrome, and we are here to tell the world our children have the right to life.
Let's invite Trig Palin and his family to join us.
NOVEMBER 16 UPDATE:
Many interested moms are asking where we should stay on the night of the 21st. I suggest the Phoenix Park Hotel since the Hyatt Capitol Hill is already booked. Don't forget to ask for your March for Life discount. Gabbi and I met Congressman Chris Smith and his lovely wife Marie at the Philipino Family Fund Cocktail Hour there last year. We also ran into David Bereit of 40 Days for Life. They have a lovely Irish pub where prolifers gather to form their battle plans on Jan 21st. It's there I met Fra Augustine of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate.

KIDS in the March for Life

Gabbi, Bella and Christina arrive at the Mall. 

The event after my EWTN interview with Teresa Tomeo (one of our group recorded it and posted it on Facebook, you can view it here) went very well, thanks be to God.

The EWTN area where Leticia filmed her KIDS interview. 

Leticia discussing Dr Lejeune with Valerie Guilloux and Rep McMorris Rogers. 

Gabbi filming the presentation of "Life is a Blessing"

 I came in ten minutes late, huffing and puffing, after having walked rapidly the entire 9 blocks between the EWTN interview location and the National Right to Life Headquarters, but I was thrilled to introduce Rep McMorrisRogers to Valerie Guilloux of the Lejeune Foundation. she presented the Congresswoman with a copy of "Life is a Blessing", some brochures and a press kit. I hope that this is the beginning of a fruitful relationship between the founder of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus and the Jerome Lejeune Foundation in the US. 



The KIDS marchers with Rep McMorris Rogers
We videotaped the entire event, and will be producing a short documentary on the KIDS participation in the March, so you can see it and share it with that big homeschooling group when its done. I would love to meet Dr Bruchalski after my back is recovered. My doctor, Dr Judith Mascolo, who was with me in the interview has put me on travel restrictions for three months. She said my back is completely stress related! Wonder where she got that idea?!

 After Rep McMorris Rogers left, I had some down time to eat and chat with Valerie Guilloux. She and her husband, Jean-Marc, are the contact people for the Jerome Lejeune Foundation in the USA. 

Eddie Sloan on dad Neil's shoulder. 

 By the time we marched, we were only Dr Judtih Mascolo, and her two daughters, Neil and Melissa Sloan and their two kids, and me and my three girls, and one of Gabbi's college friends. The six young men from Catholic University's branch of the Order of Alhambra (Catholic fraternal order which cares for the intellectually disabled) had begun to march already. My Christina refused to join the March as it was too noisy and congested, so we walked on the sidewalk alongside, with me coaxing her block by block. I miss the days she used a stroller!

Rep Cathy McMorris Rogers (center) with Leticia and family.

We didn't want to get stuck in the bottleneck in front of the Supreme Court, so, after interviewing the Neil and Melissa Sloan for the documentary, and meeting Monica, a contributor to my book A Special Mother is Born, we filmed a few minutes of the thousands of young marchers surging up Capitol Hill,  we headed for the Hyatt, and met many old friends and new ones. I got to chat with recent convert to the pro-life cause and the Catholic Church, and author of "Unplanned", Abby Johnson, and her husband. He shared how happy he was when his wife left her job at Planned Parenthood, and she shared how it was the loving, prayerful pro-life protesters who touched her heart. "The harsh ones, carrying bloody signs only hardened my resolve to keep doing what I was doing," she said. 

 I was able to tell  Terri Schiavo's mom Mary. Schindler how sorry I was for the loss of her beloved daughter and husband, Robert, who died this year, and how, as the mother of a special needs child, her daughter's murder was personal to me. I told her how we made a three foot by 12 foot sign saying "Save Terri" and held it on the Supreme Court steps while praying the rosary in her final days. Mary was moved by this, and came over to meet Christina.

We also met our friend, Good Counsel Homes Director Chris Bell and his sister-in-laws who wrote "The Caterpillar who Went to Church": series. I told them how their book was instrumental in helping me catechized Christina regarding the Blessed Sacrament, preparing her for her First Holy Communion, and Susan Brindle gave me a book which compiles all there sacrament stories into one. The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who run Morningstar Camp and the Franciscans of the Immaculate from Airmaria were also with us. Such saints among us!

Then, completely exhausted, we took the Metro to our hotel. The Metro was thick with priests and leftover marchers, and two lovely Virgina gentlemen gave up their seats for my young daughters. Southern hospitality at its best!

 The girls went out with Judy for pizza near the hotel which was buzzing with fraternity and sorority events (we were on the campus of George Washington University) I remained behind in the hotel with Christina, with a cold compress on my swollen feet, on my bed, trying to relax a back strung tighter than a violin, while trying in vain to find news coverage of the March on TV. Maybe that wasn't the most relaxing thing to do!

The next morning, we got a mistaken wake-up call at 7AM, tried to shower with limited hot water (the hotel had a boiler crisis) and at 9:40 got on the road. We picked up our camera equipment at National Right to Life Committee Headquarters, and some coffee, and made our last DC stop at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, where a new president was being installed in a Mass. The girls toured the Basilica while I interviewed (by phone) Fr Gary Thomas on whose experience the new film "The Rite" is based. See the interview here. 

We installed new windshield wipers on the van since my husband advised us we were heading towards snowstorms up north, and Gabbi my 18 year old was driving  ecause of my back spasms. I am in awe of her steady nerves, and common sense. Near the end of our trip, my back was feeling better and I offered to drive, however she insisted, saying, "I want to say I drove the entire journey in both directions".

Leticia and Abby Johnson, author of "Unplanned"

She did it, however we were disheartened that we arrived at the Charter TV studio too late to tape an interview on the March, because of our many stops. 

We promised to do a show for "The Face of Pro-life" next month, including our film clips. We will be sharing links to it here. 

It was a fruitful and blessed trip to the March for Life. 

Leticia, Friar Roderic Burke, FI, and Good Counsel Homes Chris Bell. 

Mary Schindler, Leticia and Christina

Gabbi goes to Washington

Gabbi and I left home Monday January 21st for a whirlwind two days chasing Congressmen for interviews, social gatherings with pro-life luminaries, political activism and prayer at the March for Life.

We stayed at the Phoenix Park Hotel on the 21st, right across the street from Union Station, and down Capitol Street from the Capitol itself.


We met our attorney for our attempt at bringing Catholic Radio to Long Island at the Dubliner the pub at the hotel that evening and met his pro-life activist friends, including Br. Augustine of the Friars of the Immaculate Heart whose order will be running a Catholic radio station upstate New York. These friars brought the statue of Our Lady of America to Ground Zero last anniversary of 9/11, where she circled the area, and rode up 5th Avenue to St. Patrick's Cathedral. If you are not familiar with this approved apparition from 1953, I posted on it here.
After dinner, I requested one of my favorite Irish ballads,"The Whistling Gypsy", and left the cozy pub since I wanted to show Gabbi the prayer going on at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. We attended the rosary and compline in the Crypt Church at the Basilica till midnight. I posted on this here.

On the 22nd we attended the Memorial for the Pre-Born at the Hart Office Building,where we met David Bereit, and Tony Melendez whom I posted on here. We heard inspired preaching from Fr. Frank Pavone, then we didn't get to Blogs for Life till about 11AM when Rep Christ Smith was speaking, and former Kansas Attorney General Phil Kline, who was awesome. He is in the throes of the battle to put lawbreaking George the baby killer Tiller behind bars where he belongs. Pray for him, if he succeeds amidst all the corruption in Kansas, then he promised to bring what he learned to the rest of us, and we can begin to dismantle the abortion machine, bit by bit.




Then Gabbi and I attended the March for Life, meeting many Long Island friends, I was interviewed by Japanese TV and did some interviewing of my own, and Gabbi took over 50 photos, which I made into a montage you can see here or on YouTube. I look forward to the celebration we'll have when we overturn Roe v Wade, and the state laws, and a mother's womb is no longer the most dangerous place in our land.

We spent a brief time in the Hyatt around 4PM to see the displays, meeting Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" of Roe v Wade, and Fr. Tom Euteneuer, President of Human Life International as well as Slaves of the Immaculate Heart who ran Morning Star Camp which Gabbi and Bella attended camp last summer.



We ran round the corner, changed into our nice clothes, and at 5 we attended the Filipino Family Fund Champions for the Family Award Reception at the Phoenix Park Hotel. Eduardo Verastegui didn't make his appearance there, but we met Leo Severino and his brother Roger, Bobby Schindler, Chris and Marie Smith, and Maureen Flynn. Maureen writes the magazine, "Signs and Wonders for Our Time" and organizes the International Week for Prayer and Fasting each October at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Maureen's husband Ted Flynn, whose tape "The Thunder of Justice" . Leo Severino thanked us for the success of his film, "Bella" and informed us that the DVD will go on sale May 16. I met his brother Roger who works as an attorney for the Becket Fund.
It was an amazing two days, and I formed many contacts with whom I hope to coordinate our efforts to pass the Kennedy-Brownback Bill to protect unborn children with prenatally diagnosed conditions like Down syndrome.

KIDS is on the March again!

FAMILES WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME

TO MARCH TOGETHER IN THE 2010 MARCH FOR LIFE in D.C.TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF ABORTING BABIES WITH DOWN SYNDROME

KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome), a group of families who have children with Down syndrome, will meet for the second year in a row and walk together in the 2010 March for Life in Washington, D.C.
KIDS wants to raise awareness about the 90% abortion rate of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome, to challenge the misinformation that often leads mothers to abort their babies with Down syndrome, and to proclaim the joy their children bring to their families and communities.
DATE & TIME: Friday, January 22, 2009, 11:00 a.m. to Noon

LOCATION: National Right to Life Committee, 512 10th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
Meet for refreshments prior to walking together in the 2010 March for Life

This event is open to individuals with Down syndrome and their families and friends.
For more information please contact Eileen Haupt or Leticia Velasquez.

Eileen Haupt
vteileen@comcast.net
Leticia Velasquez
marysjoys@yahoo.com

Full speed ahead to the March for Life!!

The last member of my family is on anti-biotics(they last until the March, so what can we catch now?
 "Canticle" magazine came through with a check for my article on KIDs in the March for Life (gas money)
 and I have a hotel room for Friday night.
March for Life, here we come!
Christina and I are driving while the teens in my home are going by bus. If any of you want to meet Rep Cathy McMorris Rogers at National Right to Life Headquarters at 11AM on the 22nd and join us for the March, come on over, no reservations needed! We will have a light brunch.
We have signs, banner, and scarves a plenty.
Hope to meet you there.

KIDS events in DC on January 24, the March for Life

Agenda for National Right to Life Committee Headquarters at 512 10th Street, Washington DC

• 10:45 - Melissa and Neil Sloan will be at NRLC by 10:45 to greet KIDS families.
• 11:00  KIDS families may start arriving. at 512 10th St, NW Washington, DC
• 11:00-11:30 - Leticia is meeting EWTN for an interview behind the stage of the March for Life at the Mall and 4th Street. 
• ALL KIDS members are welcome to join us and hold signs for the interview. 
•  Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers will arrive at 12:15  for a brief update on her work on behalf of our children
• Madame Valerie Guilloux of the Jerome Lejeune Foundation will address the group and present Congresswoman McMorris Rogers with a copy of "Life is a Blessing".
• After a brief brunch, KIDS families will march!

Tonight was my first TV appearance

Imagine the most grueling day possible; giving an ancient history test on the day before Christmas vacation to nineteen adolescents. Then imagine having to rush home towhisk a sick child to the pediatrician, while fighting a fever yourself. Rush to the drugstore, rush home all on snowy roads, and eat a quick supper. Then, make yourself presentable for your very first TV appearance. In English. (Last year at the March for Life, I was interviewed by Japanese TV. )
Got the picture? Now you have a vignette of my day. Actually the busyness was probably a blessing, keeping anxiety at bay. I called friends asking for prayers while nervously applying makeup, but once I got to the TV studio, only ten miles from home, and saw it full of my favorite Friars, who prayed the rosary while operating the cameras, I knew all would be well.
And it was.

I was on live TV on the Cable Access Show, "The Face of Pro-life". with host Corinne Dahm. She was very skilled at asking questions to keep a show moving, and dealt with callers as a consummate professional. Filming with Corinne was relatively easy, once I figured out which camera to face!
Talking first about the March for Life, on the live show, and then taping a show about my journey as the mother of a special needs daughter, was so easy that, when my time was up, I didn't want to leave. I spoke so enthusiastically that I almost made the show run overtime. Now Fra. Augustine will have to edit part of my comments out of the show. He had already taken some footage of Christina on the Friary playground, on the slide, playing tea party with him, and showing off for the camera. This footage was shown while we were talking, and I'm sure Christina stole the show from her mother. What a relief! I hated seeing myself on camera, it was a humbling experience.

I may have a face made for radio, and I feel more comfortable on it, but TV was easier than I thought. Thank you, Lord for providing the Friars, Corinne and Producer Darlene with the opportunity to use the expensive airtime and equipment to spread the Culture of Life.

"I regret aborting my special needs son"

Read this heart-rending article at The Daily Mail and understand why I am so motivated to attend the March for Life with my daughter with T21.
"Now aged 43, still desperate for that large family and still suffering miscarriages, I have to accept that I may never have another child. It's very hard. The ghost of my son lingers painfully, haunting my thoughts.
In the past nine years, not a week has gone by when I haven't thought of him. Despite the support that others - including those closest to me - expressed for my decision at the time, I don't think I can ever truly forgive myself for what I did.
What I do know, and often think, is that if my son had been born alive and perhaps with two years to live, were those not two years of my life that I could have spared to nurse him? Would it really have been such a sacrifice for me?
With hindsight, I think I could have offered that at the very least to a child I had wanted so much. "
Our children are a light to the world who can save expectant mothers this type of tragic choice which will haunt them forever. I applaud the author for sharing such a painful story. I wish her God's peace.

Join those of us who are marching with KIDS (Keep Infants with Down Syndrome) in the March for Life this year.
We will be meeting at 11;30 at the
National Right to Life Committee Headquarters
January 22nd at
512 10th St, NW
Washington DC.

More Photos from the March for Life

A lady from Virginia is trying to organize homeschoolers into a pro-life group. The website is www.homeschoolersforlife.com I told her we are mostly active in pro-life here on Long Island, but not as a unified group. It's something to consider, as it would send a powerful message about homeschooling.
Christina was so cold (we were mostly inside, and only ventured out for an hour of the March) but she reached out to Sr. Katherine of the Sisters of Life, whom we see regularly. We marched with them in Manhattan on the Feast of the Holy Innocents.
This young man was handing out literature for my friend Sam Brownback and needed a hat and pair of gloves desperately. I told him he was in good company.
Isn't this a striking photo with the Blessed Mother next to him?
I wonder if it's a sign?!



Fr. Thomas J. Euteneuer of Human Life International was waiting to be interviewed by EWTN, when I asked him to pose for this photo. He gave me permission to use his weekly email on my blogs. He is a tireless crusader for the rights of the unborn.

Susan Andrews Brindle and her sister. She is the sister of pro-life activist Joan Andrews Bell, and has written the series of children's books, "The Catepillar Who Went to Mass", and "The Preborn Christ". I told her I marched with Chris Bell her brother-in-law(Joan's husband) and son in New York. Pro-life people get to be a big family in the trenches, and this is our family reunion.