South Mississippi toddler is the face behind a proposed law
A toddler in Ocean Springs is the face behind a movement, proposed legislation called ‘Hudson’s Law,’ Senate Bill 2746 and House Bill 1004, being considered by the state legislature.
Hudson’s Law is all about how it can be life-changing and life-saving for those diagnosed with Down Syndrome and their families.
“Every single one of them just carries extra love. There’s nothing else that lives on that 21st chromosome. It is 100-percent extra love. They just should be loved and cherished and just treated as the gifts that they are.”
But that’s not always the case with the born, or unborn, diagnosed with Down Syndrome, something Mika Hartman knows first-hand as the mother of a child with the extra 21st chromosome. “As it currently stands, families are often given the ‘we’re sorry, please go home and talk about it,’ a sad and somber room and situation and you get home and you get on the internet and what you find is a lot of misinformation, a lot of outdated information, and quite honestly, a lot of cruel comments and things that are out there that just aren’t necessary, so basically it starts you out in a really dark place.”
But this could all change for those who are expecting if Hudson’s Law goes into effect, a bill introduced by State Senator Jeremy England and named after Mika’s son, Hudson. “It’s going to allow doctors to provide you with a lot of great information, updated information. It’s going to give you peace and hope. You will leave out of there knowing that you’ve got a really great support system and an instant family. It’s changing the conversation from, ‘We’re sorry’ to ‘Congratulations.’
Similar legislation is already in effect in 20 other states and would be far-reaching here in the state of Mississippi. “It’s just one step. We’ve got a lot of work to do because there are a lot of discrimination laws in place against Down Syndrome.”
Hudson Hartman is living proof at nearly age three that it’s not how many days you walk this earth, but how you walk them out. “He’s already been the Grand Marshal for the Buddy Walk in New York. He’s just a gift, and he’s going to change the world.”
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