When Dr. Henry delivers his own twins, he discovers that his daughter has Down Syndrome. Trying to spare his wife’s feelings, he sends the baby to an institution, and tells his wife that the baby has died. But his daughter is not brought to the institution. Instead, she thrives in the loving home of Dr. Henry’s nurse. Meanwhile, the doctor’s decision causes more pain for his family than he could possibly have imagined.

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1. 

   I’m in the middle of reading this book and was intending to recommend it to you. The doctor’s impulsive decision at the time of the baby’s birth certainly leads him and his family down a complex road he did not anticipate. As one goes further in the book, the background of the doctor’s youth gives some foundation to his decision. At the time of the book’s setting (mid 1960’s) it was still the norm to put aside children with Downs and keep them completely out of the mainstream. I have a friend who really struggled with the book because she has a now grown up sister who has Downs and was born about the time of this book’s setting–but was received by her parents in the totally opposite way of this book.

   Mom

   Comment by rpikk — April 23, 2007 @ 5:50 pm

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