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Last October, a few days after Respect Life Sunday, my wife and I finally had our first child. After years of trying, with miscarriages, false positives and tests galore, little Teresa certainly is extra-special for us and our family and friends.

She came with something extra herself: an extra chromosome. The result is a condition called trisomy 21, otherwise known as Down syndrome.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that, each year, about 6,000 babies in the United States are born with Down syndrome. It is one of the most common genetic birth defects, affecting about one out of every 691 babies born in our country.

This extra chromosome changes the body's and brain's normal development. Every baby born with Down syndrome is different: Some have major birth defects or other medical problems; others, delayed language development and difficulties with physical coordination. There are more than 50 clinical signs of Down syndrome, but it is rare to find even most of them in one person.

Despite these issues, many people with Down syndrome live happy, productive lives well into adulthood.

After Teresa was born, we were introduced to the world of early childhood intervention - a federal support system for children with developmental disabilities or delays and their families - and the challenge of caring for a baby with a little "extra."

Before she reached three months of age, Teresa was already having physical and speech therapy. She has seen more than her share of medical specialists. But should this have been cause enough to have snuffed the life out of her before she was even born?

Wouldn't it have been easier on all of us if we had terminated the pregnancy? Each year, thousands of women do just that when it is discovered that their unborn child has Down syndrome.

If current health policies and trends continue, Denmark could be a country without a single citizen with Down syndrome in the not-too-distant future. Since 2004, the Danish government has offered free prenatal screenings to determine if the fetus has Down syndrome.

In 2004, 61 babies with Down syndrome were born in Denmark. The following year, the number was reduced by more than half. In each successive year, the number continued to drop by about 13 percent, because most fetuses that test positive for the defect are aborted.

A new blood test to determine Down syndrome early in pregnancy is expected to be available within months in the United States.

As we lived through the first trimester of pregnancy with Teresa, I was surprised how doctor after doctor was concerned about the timing of blood work and ultrasounds so that, if we chose to end the pregnancy, we could still do so.

In our brave new world of genetic testing and managed health care, it may eventually become unacceptable for parents to continue a pregnancy knowing that their baby has Down syndrome. Recent U.S. studies have indicated that, when it is diagnosed prenatally, 84 to 91 percent of those babies will be killed by abortion.

An estimated 70 percent of all pregnant women in our country will choose to have prenatal screening tests - and it seems that many healthcare professionals assume that, if a woman consents to screening or diagnosis, she is willing to discuss abortion.

Doctors may see advantages in ending the pregnancy as soon as possible to avoid the medical risk to the woman. Combine this predisposition with the perceived burden of raising a child with Down syndrome, and many women could convince themselves that abortion is their most prudent choice.

My wife and I chose life. To us, it was a no-brainer. As Teresa approaches her first birthday, we can celebrate her life. She may be, developmentally, a bit slower than her peers, but she is our little baby, our pride and joy. She can bring a smile to our faces and brighten up the room as she rolls across the floor or plays with her toys.

Our family and friends rejoice in her young life and those who work with her in therapy and day care exult in her achievements. She is always moving forward, even if that means simply rolling across the floor to get to a toy or snuggle up next to mommy or daddy.

Down syndrome is almost universally seen as something to be avoided. That is truly a shame when we consider the results of a national survey: 79 percent of parents surveyed said they were proud of their child with Down syndrome, felt their own outlook on life was more positive because of their experience and have no regrets about having their child.

A similar study of adults with Down syndrome reported that 99 percent are happy with their lives, 97 percent like who they are and 96 percent like how they look.

Teresa enjoys my reading to her each night and is fascinated by her mom's iPod, cell phone and other electronic gizmos. We also trust in our amazing God, who watches over all His children and who blessed us with this little girl who defied the odds.

As the pregnancy progressed last year, we were told there was a one in 1,400 chance of Teresa having Down syndrome. You know what? She beat the odds. She's our one!

(Mr. Mawn is associate director for catechist formation and respect life with the Albany diocesan Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life.)[[In-content Ad]]

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