24 JUNE 1995, Page 28

Sir: I write to express the delight all parents of

a Down's syndrome child must feel over Dominic Lawson's courageous account of his reactions to the birth of his new little daughter, Domenica. He has only been the parent of a special child for two weeks, yet he has got it all right. Down's syndrome children bring extraordinary blessings to the families which they are permitted to join. They are stars in an increasingly mate- rialistic world. Those of us with a Down's syndrome child (our son, Robert, is almost 24) often wish that all our children had this extraordinary syndrome which deletes anger and malice, replacing them with humour, thoughtfulness and devotion to friends and family.

We may start with aching hearts and the sense of bereavement he describes so well, but, within a year, we begin to realise that these children have so much to teach us about what really matters. Thank heaven

they are still somehow getting born in all countries, in all levels of society and to all ages of parents.

E. Eyre

The Field House, Great Durnford, Salisbury Wilts