Ophelia Kirwan: Letter from Mr. and Mrs. Kirwan
A few days ago I posted a story from The Daily Mail about Ophelia Kirwan. The story in The Daily Mail claimed that Ophelia’s parents were considering cosmetic surgery for the toddler, who hasDown’s Syndrome, so that she might fit in better with her non-disabled peers. Being a staunch disability-rights advocate I came out very much against that idea.
I have been contacted by Mr. Laurence and Mrs. Chelsea Kirwan and they have stated that the story in the Daily Mail was entirely false and obtained under false pretenses. Here is their e-mail as follows.
I would recommend that you read Chelsea’s and my comments in response to the Mail
Article. Please see Ophelia’s web site Ophelia My Life So Far where the comments are posted. You can also read my interchange with the ‘Mail on Sunday’ writer, Bonnie Estridge prior to publication of the article. As a friend of mine with a Down syndrome child said, ‘the only thing you can believe in the Mail is the date!’ This article by Amanda Cable infers that she had an interview with the Kirwans prior to writing the March 10 piece. Neither I nor Chelsea has ever spoken to Amanda Cable. We never stated or implied the title. Ophelia is reported as living in Knightsbridge
whereas the Mail commissioned her photographs at her home in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA. All of the interviews between Bonnie Estridge of the ‘Mail on Sunday’ and Chelsea were held by transatlantic telephone calls.We have never recommended or even considered cosmetic surgery for Ophelia. We are far more interested in her health, as well as her physical and mental development. Of course we love Ophelia as she is.
The decision to have surgery on a child with congenital anomalies is a complex one taken between the parents and their surgeon. We should leave that decision to the individual family and their medical advisors to decide on its own merits. Reconstructive surgery for congenital anomalies of all kinds has improved the quality of life of millions of children. As a plastic surgeon I have spent my life correcting congenital deformities in the USA and in Third World countries, as part of charitable missions
Please take the time to read our comments on Ophelia’s web site as well as her diary which documents Ophelia’s progress over the last 2 years and our emotions during that period.
Lastly, Chelsea and I were assured that this was a mother daughter article for Mother’s Day without any mention of me or plastic surgery. If we had known otherwise we would never have been a party to this shameful article which is a disservice to all individuals with disabilities and to the Down syndrome community in particular. We have always championed research into Down syndrome and that is why in the original article of March 2, Bonnie Estridge gives the names of the charities we support. Neither charity has any interest in cosmetic surgery but is primarily concerned with developmental progress and quality of life issues.
Laurence and Chelsea Kirwan
Thank you for your letter, Mr. and Mrs. Kirwan. I’m pleased to discover that you love your daughter just as she is and wish you well in your dealings with The Daily Mail.
