A Russian father has saved his child from foster care after his mother wished to give him away because he had Down Syndrome. The act of the mother will be shocking to many but, unfortunately, many parents see a child with Down Syndrome as a burden.
Down Syndrome can affect growth and can interfere with cognitive ability, however many people with Down Syndrome, a condition caused by an extra-chromosome, live full and happy lives.
A post shared by Евгений Анисимов (@evgen_tyz) on
In an interview with Bored Panda, Evgeny Anisimov, the baby's father, spoke of his love for his son, Masha, and how they are determined to overcome any adversity put in their way.
He said:
"I didn't know what to do when I learned of the hypothesis that my son had Down Syndrome. I thought my task now was to turn off emotions, ignite thoughts, support my wife because I believed it would be more difficult for her. In my life, after all, nothing had changed, in general. I was still with two arms, with two legs, my professional knowledge had gone nowhere. My determination, activity, curiosity, and so on—everything was with me. Everything happened as I planned, my son was born. But the child is special, his life and future destiny are already very significant. And I'm roaring here! This is some kind of selfishness! Is it not fair? No, it is my responsibility."
While the mother was unable to handle the situation and wished to give the child away, Evgeny knew that in the West, many children with Down Syndrome live happy lives. He was determined that the child he loved and lived for was not going to be left in an orphanage.
He added:
"I learned that in Europe, people with Down Syndrome are well-socialized, can live and work independently. But the decision I had already made was not influenced by that. At no time did I think of leaving my son in an orphanage, that would be inhumane."
The proud father now wishes to raise awareness of Down Syndrome and spread the knowledge that people affected by the condition and their parents should not be stigmatised. Part of that has involved him sharing pictures of him and his son enjoying their day-to-day life on Instagram and telling their story.
A post shared by Евгений Анисимов (@evgen_tyz) on
A post shared by Евгений Анисимов (@evgen_tyz) on
COMMENTS