I know it's only a soap, but I really think the petal storyline in eastenders has dragged on for too long ...

[wannaBeOnTopOfTheChristmasTree]

I have no doubt that to find out that there is something wrong with your baby must be devostating for any parent

And I have no doubt that some parents don't cope as well as others and have to go through more of an adjustment period.

But from the amount of positive posts on here from parents of children who have downs, I can't help thinking that eastenders is giving an extremely negative view of downs which is going on far longer than is necessary.

Of course I do understand that they have to show every aspect, and that it would be more fitting for a soap to show some negative rather than showing billy and honey embracing their newly diagnosed daughter and taking her into the queen vic to show her off to all the excited punters, but I do think that putting petal into foster care is going far too far the other way.

I also read that Petal is going to die - so will the bbc be portraying anything positive out of this?

it was my understanding that petal would be a long standing character - unless they have changed their mind.

Sadly children with ds do die from related health issues - heart defects, etc.

Message withdrawn

Perhaps the Eastenders writers have got themselves in a hole they can't climb out of - hence they are killing Petal off?? (sorry for the insensitive turn of phrase there).