Through Jimmy's Eyes

J.M.J.+
I am posting in regards to our next peaceful prayer vigil which will take place on Saturday, the 28th of June outside Planned Parenthood (345 Whitney Avenue New Haven) from 8am until 12 pm noon, the hours which the babies are scheduled to be killed by abortion.

I came across an article which I found disheartening as a woman and a mother. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20031222/ayrey
Along with the technological and medical advancements of Obstetrics seems to come a daunting dark shadow clouding the minds and hearts of pregnant women everywhere. I do not dispute that medical intervention is and can be a very necessary and life saving measure, however what benefit can come of prenatal labs seeking to narrow down the mother’s odds of having a “normal” baby or a second trimester ultrasound given to anatomically dissect and scrutinize the growing fetus in the womb created to point out chromosomal anomalies such as Down syndrome and Trisomy 18? Many women are unaware that these tests are not being done to benefit them or their babies, but to protect Obstetricians from being liable for not letting a woman know her odds. Bottom line is OB’s do not want to get sued. Sure there are some women who might choose to know this information to better prepare the family to lovingly accept a special needs child or a baby who has a terminal diagnosis, but for the most part this is not the case and many of these tests are inaccurate to say the least, leading women to further interventions such as Amniocentesis which can increase the risk of miscarriage. I know women who have sought abortion as their option to deal with what Obstetricians are providing as a “possible” less than perfect baby in our modern world. I cannot help but to think how truly special most children with Down syndrome are. I have a friend who had a son with Down syndrome named Jimmy. He has since passed away and she refers to him as her angel in heaven. I have learned a lot from hearing her speak about Jimmy and how he understood what life really was all about. When it was time for him to make his first Holy Communion, my friend Esther told me that there was not any Catechism for special needs kids to prepare him for the Sacrament. Esther and a few others with special needs children created a course with their priest and the children went on to make their first Holy Communion. On Jimmy’s special day he was so excited and Esther said when Jimmy went up and the priest said “The Body of Christ” Jimmy answered enthusiastically Jesus! So Esther whispered to Jimmy to say amen. After Mass the priest took Esther aside and asked her why she told Jimmy not to say Jesus but to say amen. Esther just shrugged her shoulders and said because that is how we taught him. The priest said do not worry about Jimmy, you let him say Jesus because he really understands unlike so many others who he is receiving.

Esther said that Jimmy had the utmost reverence for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In his simple mind he grasped what so many of us can forget, that Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist, something to be awed to which we can take for granted. One day at Mass a boy who went up for Holy Communion did not consume the Eucharist and Jimmy watched him throw Our Lord on the floor. Esther saw Jimmy jump over the people in the pew to pick up the Eucharist he then held it up to the boy and said “Jesus, this is Jesus! No throw Jesus on the floor!” He then explained to the boy he must consume the Blessed Sacrament.

Jimmy got it. He understood things most people miss because we simply “think” too much. We scrutinize, we worry, we try to play God. Esther told me when Jimmy was born she was very angry. She did not understand what she could have done to be punished with such a sick and frail baby who needed open heart surgery and special care. Esther today says Jimmy was a gift that God sent to save her family. It restored her faith bringing her closer to God as well as restored the family unit in a special way. She now understands Jimmy’s purpose was very real and his life was never a “chromosomal mistake” or in vain. Jimmy has shown us God does not make mistakes.
Let us pray for all the Jimmys in the wombs of their mothers and for a medical model which views them as disposable accidents. Hearing Jimmy’s story has helped me to see that perhaps we are the ones with “something” wrong and kids like Jimmy are the perfect ones.
Jesus please help us.
May God bless you,
Mike and Kerry