Thank you to the citizens of Minnesota and all those involved with prenatal exposure for the mighty effort they put out to make this day happen. It is my privilege to speak on behalf of all the parents who love and live with children exposed to alcohol before birth. It is my privilege to speak for those who live daily with the primary and secondary issues erupting from this exposure. Today is a day of awareness. We have stripped back the dark covering and let the sun shine in.
Today is a day of awareness.
Alcohol exposure is the leading known cause of mental retardation in the western world - US, Canada, Europe and Australia. In the United States 10,657 babies are born daily . . . 4 will have Spina Bifida . . . 4 will be infected with HIV . . . 10 of these babies will have Downs Syndrome.