This question is really a bioethical question- I am going to try to keep my response relatively short because I could go on and on with the many facets this question can have- having a child with Down's Syndrome or any other disability cannot be easy for any parent. They have daily challenges that I have never had with my children-but does that mean that her life is not worth living- No absolutely not. Because of my belief in God and what I believe to be true according to his word, I don't think we( man) has the right to determine who should live and who should die, and who should be sent away because of a genetic mutation. Now do not confuse this with people that can either be a danger to themselves or to others- I am not talking about that- Phoebe grew up being loved by Al and Caroline- she never knew the difference although I think on some level she was aware that some people did not want her around (just a little). But she loved and she was loved. I am going to stop here because I could go on and on ...
Paul??? Emotionally he was screwed up because of his parents( I place most of the blame on David) but in terms of materially, he had a great quality of life. Emotionally- he had no real sense of who he was- I don't think either one of his parents shared their family lives with him... so he had no one/nothing to refer to. You know... ancestry... how his father came to be who he was... why his mother was the way she was...I also think as a twin, he knew subconsciously that he was incomplete....what are your thoughts?
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I agree this is bioethical and my belief in God also answers this question for me. Even if she had only lived one day, I think she should have that oportunity. Thank God I have not had to make this decision based on illness, but every life is worth living and as parents I think it is our responsibility that children have the best life within our means. David's parents did this for him and his sister and Caroline and AL did this for Phoebe. I don't think David and Nora did this for Paul.
If you compare Phoebe's life to Paul's life, I would say Phoebe had a better quality of life b/c she was loved and she was taught how to love in return. She grew up happy! Paul on the other hand was not happy and did not grow up happy. In the book he said he hated his father and he dreaded doing things with him. He found happiness in music and his father did not understand this or him. Nora was too busy finding herself even though she supported Paul she did not give him all the attention he deserved. David's lie ruined his family and they were really dysfunctional. I think what really made a bad situation worst was when he found his mother's clothes on the beach and knew she was sleeping with Howard. Then to know his father knew and did nothing about it that when he knew that there was something wrong with his parents.
Goins you are right, he did not have roots. He knew his Aunt and his maternal grandmother (not that well), but he knew nothing about his father and he craved to know. Rachel only gave him a glimpse of his father's heritage. He could not understand why she knew things about his own father and he didn't and at first he resented her for that. I really felt sorry for Paul. On the other hand I was happy for Phoebe.
Wow! I don’t know how to respond to the bioethical question. I don’t know what I would do if that situation ever came up. I don’t think I have the right to terminate anyone’s life based on a disability. It is true what you mentioned … It’s better to live one day with downs syndrome than not to live at all. Like they say “it’s better to have loved and lost a love than never to have loved at all.”
Phoebe’s life was happy, full of love. She had everything she needed in order to live a happy fulfilled life. She had two parents that loved her unconditionally. Paul didn’t have the same life as a child. He had everything material he needed but he missed the family, love ambiance that Phoebe had.
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