Update: The COVID-19 outbreak has forced us to delay the opening of the Jerome Lejeune Foundation medical center until the fall. While this setback is disappointing, we are still moving forward to bring much-needed medical care to children and adults with Down syndrome in the United States.
January 28, 2020
Dear Friend of the Jerome Lejeune Foundation,
It’s quite simple for you and me to identify with a side or a cause. Admittedly, some are easier than others. As I reflect on all the work that we have done to protect the dignity of the human person, I’ve always found myself – perhaps like you – undoubtedly and without question, pro-life.
But recently, God challenged me in just the way he planned, with a sweet, innocent little baby.
When she wakes up in the morning, her smile could illuminate the world. I often greet her and call her my “joy and joyness”! Without fail, she melts even the hardest of hearts.
My daughter Maria.
Little Maria has already opened my eyes in two profound ways. Because Maria has an extra 21st chromosome, she is part of a community that is being systematically targeted for abortion all around the world. I have heard this for years, but now I unfortunately witnessed firsthand medical professionals and well-intending individuals push, advocate for, and expect Maria’s immediate termination upon the realization she had Down syndrome.
Unbelievably, she was the first pre-diagnosed baby with Trisomy 21 born in 25 years in the OB practice we selected for our delivery!
Abortion Destroys
The first thing Maria taught me is that, by aborting these precious people, our culture and country are literally destroying a joy that is necessary to our society.
We must advocate better as pro-life people and save the beautiful dynamic these people bring to society!
A Massive Gap in Care
The second thing Maria taught me is that there are massive gaps in the way we care for these precious people.
The consequence of the mentality that systematically destroys these precious people is evident in the huge need that we find in the health services here in America for individuals with Down syndrome.
Maria has a few health issues, a heart problem, and some low muscle tone: all of which are really common for individuals with Down syndrome. These issues are overshadowed by her incredible strength, determination, and endless love for everyone that gets to be around her.
Even though Maria has it better than some, we have had so many struggles finding adequate specialized care for her.
An Immediate Solution
But there is an immediate solution to this problem that I would like to share with you.
My daughter Maria is tended to by a doctor at the Jerome Lejeune hospital in France.
We recently returned from Paris, France where we took Maria for a doctor’s visit. We traveled the distance so that Maria could be seen by physicians at the top hospital in the world specializing in Trisomy 21: the Jerome Lejeune Institute, created by the Jerome Lejeune Foundation in France.
Advocacy through care is the mission of this essential foundation that is carrying on the legacy of Dr. Jerome Lejeune.
The Jerome Lejeune Institute in Paris has been seeing patients for 30 years and has direct access to the knowledge and research of Dr. Jerome Lejeune himself. With over 60 employees that service the needs of people like Maria in an individualized and incredibly caring way, the Jerome Lejeune hospital in Paris unquestionably offers the best care in the world for those with Down syndrome.
Maria has been seen by medical offices in New York and Colorado, some of which actually focus on Trisomy 21. Sadly, these facilities, although well-intentioned, lack the specialized care based in over three decades of experience.
A New Medical Center for People with Down Syndrome
The great news is that we are very close to expanding the Jerome Lejeune Foundation’s amazing facility here to the USA! Our plan is to open the new medical center in May of 2020!
But we need your help! We still need about $300,000 to make this expansion a reality. There are an estimated 300,000-400,000 individuals with Down syndrome living here in North America.
We need pro-life heroes like you to stand with us and advocate through care.
Would you consider joining me in supporting this expansion? Would you join me in making a special tax-deductible gift to help build this facility here in the United States?
| $50 | $250 | $500 | $1000 |
Our family is dedicated to making this expansion a reality to improve the quality of life for individuals like our little angel Maria. Would you join us?
Would you join all the precious people with Trisomy 21 by giving them the best care so they may prosper?
May God richly bless you in this new year,
