Completing the Family

Tripp and Barbara Curtis already had nine kids, when they decided to adopt three more. To some, the challenges of raising a big family would be multiplied with the challenges of four of those children having Down’s syndrome – but not to Barbara. She says each child has invaluable worth and brings immeasurable joy to family life.

Yet, 80 to 90 percent of expectant mothers who find out their babies have Down syndrome choose abortion instead. On the search for answers, we met Dr. Brian Skotko, resident physician at Children’s Hospital Boston and Boston Medical Center. What he discovered about how doctors may be influencing these new mothers might surprise you.