The vast majority of people who are raising children with special needs cope with the burden. And legions of Americans have gotten divorced and gone on with their lives. But ordinary people under extraordinary stress rarely get much public attention or sympathy. Having a child with a medical condition is a major stress. Down syndrome is just one of many congenital maladies.
Some conditions are mild, others life-threatening.
Down syndrome, for example, varies widely in severity. Yet many children born with these conditions need lifetime care. According to Family Voices, an advocacy group, more than 12 million children in the United States have some medical problem, from asthma to cerebral palsy. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services counts about 4 million children with special needs, including 2 million with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. In many instances, a family member is the primary caregiver.