Kim Edward's "the Memory Keepers Daughter"

Sometimes you find a book that fits everythingUsually the husband made this decision often over
you've ever thought a book should be.the wishes of the mother. My friend said this caused
No one told me about "The Memory Keeper'shuge conflict in families, and many of these couples
Daughter," by Kim Edwards. But I knew I was abouteventually divorced, at a time when divorce was not
to undertake a grueling several days and I wanted apopular.
good book to escape to. So I walked into Borders,Conflict, angst, total sadness and great loss.
and strolled right to the book in question and boughtSo our character in The Memory Keeper's Daughter
it.acted as others acted at the time and made a
My days would be taken up with an Advanceddecision that was commonly made.
Cardiac Life Support course coupled with oral andAt this point, we could discuss such ethical issues as
written tests, plus having to know things I alreadyeugenics, abortion, and infanticide, but these are
knew but needed to feel more confident aboutbeyond the scope of this article.
knowing, such as the recogniton of cardiac rhythms,As a Labor and Delivery nurse, I also serve on what
knowledge of cardiac drugs in the event of suddenis called the Bereavement Committee, serving those
cardiac arrest, stroke or collapse.parents whose babies have died.
The book immediately reveals the story line, most allWe have more than our share of pregnancy losses,
of the characters, and pulls you in by the end of thepremature babies who teeter on the edge between
very first chapter with poetically beautiful narrative.life and death, and yes, several Down's babies are
Throughout the book, the author brings all fiveborn every year, as well.
senses and mixes them with nature images and mindThe main concern is whether a family has the
dreams to illustrate points, develop the character andresources to care for these beautiful and loving
story line.children.
The book begins with a young married couple deeplyDo they have the family support, dedication and
in love and nine months pregnant, going into labor incommittment?
the middle of an unexpected and rare snowstorm inWaldorf educational methods are tailor made to help
Kentucky.special needs children.
The husband is an Orthopedic doctor. When his wifeWalforf education was developed by Rudolf Steiner
goes into labor, they arrange to meet thein Europe in the 1920's. There are currently more than
Obstetrician at the husband's Orthopedic clinic. The500 Waldorf schools worldwide, and Waldorf has
Ob doctor crashes in the snow storm and thebeen in North America for 75 years.
husband must deliver the baby.Waldorf is based on the view that the human being
His nurse is also present to assist in this momentousis a being of body, soul and spirit. The Waldorf
occasion.approach to education attempts to bring together all
The first chapter ends dramatically when the motherelements of a child's development: intellectual, artistic,
delivers not one but two babies. One is a healthyand spiritual.
baby boy, the other is a girl with Down's, or TrisomyIts goal is to produce individuals who are able to
21.function independently and create the meaning for
The year is 1964.their own lives themselves, and not have to rely on
This is a moment that changes the course ofothers to do this for them.
everyone's lives; the doctor, his wife and nurse forWaldorf educational methods are diametrically
the doctor decides the baby girl must go and live inopposed to those that forms the basis for most
an institution and he gives the baby to his nurse topublic school systems.
take the baby there.Waldorf education is intended to preserve the
He tells his wife that the baby is dead.integrity of the individual student; not to turn them
The nurse cannot follow through with leaving theinto conformists. Waldorf educational methods are
baby at the institution, so she leaves town with theeffective for all students but are particularly helpful in
baby and raises her.the case of special needs children.
All this in a few short pages.Special needs children will have strengths in areas not
Much has changed since 1964. Now we perform adeveloped in the standard public educational systems.
marker test for Downs between 16 and 19 weeks. IfWaldorf methods will address these strengths, and
the baby does have the marker, an amniocentesis ischild will experience significant increases in
offered. If this is definitive for Downs, the parentsself-esteem as a result of their success. Special
have the choice to terminate the pregnancy.needs children often have very limited experience in
Markers in early pregnancy have also been developedbeing successful in a school environment and respond
but most health insurance carriers will not pay for thisrapidly and positively when they are given a chance
expensive test.to demonstrate their competence.
If parents decide to keep the baby, they have timeBut the most profound benefit of using Waldorf
to prepare mentally, spiritually and psychologically foreducational methods to help special needs children is
what is sure to be a challenge.that they encourage the children to develop as
This book is about a secret that hangs like a thunderindependent, self-reliant individuals, able to function
cloud, following these pivotal characters throughoutand meet life on their own terms, rather than
the book.passively looking to others for guidance.
Mom knows subliminally but does not knowThis paves the way for a lifetime of successful self
consciously.determination for the special needs child taught by
Her husband becomes distant and unreachable fromWaldorf educational methods.
the time he tells his wife this lie throughout theirOn the East Coast, Beaver Run and Spring Valley
entire marriage.Waldorf Communities serve Special Needs People
Demons, shadows, nightmares.from youth to old age and death. What a wonderful
I spoke to a former head of Pediatrics who is nowalternative to an "Institution."
retired. He said years ago, when a Downs baby wasThis is an enlightened alternative to an otherwise
born, the Pediatrician routinely counseled the family tobleak life of dependence.
give the child immediately over to an institution.