"Two Conversations that Changed My Life" [Tedx talks]
“He is the light of our lives.”
Beckett, born to Tamara Taggart, is not cancer, but a valued human being. Yet, the news of Tamara’s cancer was wrapped up almost completely in a positive package. She was told of the possibilities and how hard the medical team would work to help her overcome it. When the news was given to her about her son Beckett having Downs Syndrome, the medical professionals focused on little other than the negative effects his Downs Syndrome would have on her and her family’s life. The stark contrast reveals a culture rooted in ableism.
As mentioned in episode 11 of our podcast, the need for a culture shift amongst healthcare providers caring for families affected by disability is great. Tamara shares how she, as a parent, needed kindness, positivity, and empathy from her doctors and news about all of the potential that Beckett shows as a person. Not the message that her son was “not normal”, a statistic, and “incurable”.
“No one, especially newborns, should be written off because they have extra challenges.”
As the Church, we aim to be agents in changing popular culture. We can choose to use loving language to ascribe value and affirmation for every child as they are created in the image of God. Moreover, we can demonstrate value by providing supportive relationships to families who will often be marked by loneliness and misunderstanding in the world. The story of Beckett and Tamara reminds us that we have a powerful message of hope and human dignity that the world is desperate to hear.
References
Thumbnail: https://bc.ctvnews.ca/changing-the-conversation-watch-tamara-taggart-s-touching-tedx-talk-1.2129643
Video Link: https://youtu.be/vjRlFCgQ1e8