The mother of a model and actress with Down’s syndrome said that a nurse encouraged her to leave her newborn baby to die at the hospital.
Yvonne Goldstein, the mother of model and actress Ellie Goldstein, 24, explained that, after she was told that Ellie had Down’s syndrome, a nurse said “The last mother who had one of these left it here. Do you want to do that?’” Clearly shocked, Yvonne responded by saying “What are you talking about? [Of] course not”.
After hearing from the midwife that Ellie had Down’s syndrome, Yvonne said they told her “Do not feed her. Don’t do anything”.
Four hours later, a medical team of seven people came back, with one of them telling Yvonne “This is Ellie. She’s got Down’s syndrome. She will never walk, talk or go to university”.
“I said, ‘Can I feed her?’ and they were like, ‘Well, she needs checking. She probably won’t be able to drink.’ We gave her a bottle and she was fine”, Yvonne added.
Ellie proved the naysayers wrong and has achieved great things
Despite these claims that she would achieve little in life, Ellie Goldstein proved the medical team wrong. She could walk by 18 months, was speaking by her third birthday and was able to read by the time she started school. She went on to make history in 2023 as the first model with Down’s syndrome to appear on the cover of British Vogue. Last year, Ellie also became the first person with Down’s syndrome to compete in the main series of Strictly Come Dancing.
Others, like Ellie, have also shown that people with Down’s syndrome can lead fulfilling lives. By the time he was 20, actor Tommy Jessop was already starring in mainstream theatre productions before going on to star in the BBC’s crime drama Line of Duty.
Recently, I’m A Celebrity contestant and Manchester rapper Aitch revealed he went on the show to raise awareness about people with Down’s syndrome. Aitch, who is an ambassador for the Down’s Syndrome Association, also highlighted his close relationship with his 13-year-old sister Gracie, who has Down’s syndrome, describing her as “the most perfect girl I’ve ever met” and saying “’I wouldn’t even be half the person I am if she wasn’t here”.
Criticism of law allowing abortion up to birth for children with Down’s syndrome
Aitch also spoke out against the fact that under UK law, it is possible to have an abortion up to birth in cases where the unborn baby is diagnosed with the condition, saying, “I’ve just learned certain things over the years that make me a bit sad. In terms of you can be a day before giving birth, and if you find out your child’s got Down Syndrome, you can still have the option to terminate it”.
“Whereas in another situation, if your kid doesn’t have that, you’ve only got a certain amount of time before you can abort”.
Spokesperson for Right To Life UK, Catherine Robinson, said “It is appalling that Yvonne Goldstein was casually encouraged to abandon her daughter simply because she has Down’s syndrome. Ellie Goldstein, Tommy Jessop and many others are living proof that people with Down’s syndrome are capable of living fulfilling and happy lives”.
“Every human life, regardless of age, sex or disability, has value. It is unjust to abort children with Down’s syndrome before they have a chance to live outside the womb”.
