Book & Bookgroup: Tuesday's Child

Summary: Kathy and her partner had spent months agonising over whether to have a third child, then, at thirty-five, Kathy decided it would be now or never. When Caoimhe was born there was nothing to suggest anything was wrong. The following day a midwife baldly told Kathy her baby had Down syndrome. Tuesday’s Child tells of Kathy's journey through shock, anger and grief to, ultimately, a kind of acceptance. From the bombshell of diagnosis - the defining moment that was to reshape her life - she charts her initial obsession with 'Why?', the impact on the family, the often hurtful, ignorant responses of strangers (and friends), and, most importantly of all, the battle to reclaim Caoimhe as an individual, not just a 'Downs child'. As Kathy wrote in her original article: ‘I don’t know where she fits in society, but a family is a world in microcosm. And I do know that right here, right now, she fits perfectly within my arms.’ A compelling mix of heartfelt personal story and insightful journalism, Tuesday’s Child highlights society's attitudes to difference and the ongoing ethical debate about genetics, as well as examining the minefield that is prenatal testing.

I enjoyed the book but I think it was mainly due to my age and situation. When I fell pregnant with Adam I didn't undergo any prenatal testing and I still don't know if I would... It really opened up my eye to disability and the appalling way people are treated. Mixed reactions from bookgroup as most thought the author was wallowing in her grief. We all thought it would be interesting to hear her thoughts now as the child will be about 10. The book however was when she was still very little so it would be interesting to see how she how differently she handles the situation.