Steve Palmer's blog about his son Stanley - who has Down's Syndrome - & the extended family.

Sunday 3 August 2014

Abandongate: How Gammy helped out at the pool this morning


Suddenly; a news story that isn't in the Middle East, the Ukraine or West Africa. This should be the silly season for the media, but big international events are keeping their focus on geopolitical issues. Then #abandongate lands on the editors' desks and it's time for an international story that's slightly different and which people can do something about. In this case, send cash. And awareness has been raised about Down's. 

So, was it me or did Stan and I have more respectful looks this morning at the swimming pool? Surely one result of the #abandongate / Baby Gammy situation is that people who are shocked at the thought of a baby being abandoned - just because of his Down's and related medical conditions - would also be less shocked and more accepting of me and Stan doing our thing in the pool, than they sometimes are. 

If you're a Down's parent and you've missed this news story you've been on another planet. But that's OK, as Down's parents we're often off the planet anyway. Oh, the challenges... But is that enough for this couple to only take home the 'child that works' - ie Gammy's Sis - and leave Gammy with his surrogate Mum? Don't get me wrong; sometimes I feel like dropping Stan off in Thailand, but only for a bit of Down's Dad down time, not for a lifetime. 

It's great that the Down's Syndrome Association have just put out a statement saying that they hope Gammy will be reunited with his sister one day. The Mum in Thailand needs lots of support and it's good that hard cash has already been promised. 

And, in the pool next Sunday, we'll we're just be doing our thing. Just like Gammy will be soon, we hope. 

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