9/9

Today is National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders day. At 9:09 (either a.m. or p.m.) people around the globe will stop for a moment of silence in recognition of the 1 in every 100 children born with Fetal Alcohol Disorders.
Diego has FASD, a prenatal brain injury caused by exposure to alcohol. Completely avoidable, the only form of mental retardation that is.

A few facts about FASD:
* Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is the leading known cause of mental retardation in western civilization.
* Of all the substances of abuse, including heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, alcohol produces by far the most serious neurobehavioral effects in the fetus.
* Over 50% of women of childbearing age drink alcohol.
* About 20% of women who are known to be pregnant continue to drink during their pregnancy. The incidence of drinking during pregnancy has increased substantially in the past several years, possibly due to the misleading media message that a drink a day is healthy.
* Women at risk of drinking during pregnancy include women who smoke, who are single, who are in college or have a degree, and women in households with incomes over $50,000.
* At least 5000 infants are born each year in the US with full FAS (like Diego) or approximately every 750 live births.
* People with FASD have serious problems with attention deficits, impulse control, judgment and memory.
* Fewer than 10% of individuals with FASD are able to acheive success in living and working independently.
* Among children with FASD up to age 15, the social maturation process seems to be stunted at the level of a 6 year old child.

It's almost overwhelming to me as I type those facts to think every single one of them applies to Diego, I see it and live it with him every day. Would I want him to be normal? Absolutely. But God created Diego with a unique personality and gifts and talents within this thing called FASD. God took something horrible and made Diego wonderful!

Please never attribute the 'just another bad kid' attitude to a child who in the news for doing something horrific, they may be living with undiagnosed affects of prenatal exposure to alcohol.

If you know a woman who is pregnant and is drinking alcohol, please urge her to stop drinking... for the sake of her unborn child.