The Jerome Lejeune Legacy Fund

Bringing Needed Medical Care to Those with Down Syndrome in the United States

Madame Lejeune’s Final Appeal to Support Her Shared Work with Dr. Jerome Lejeune

Sadly, Madame Birthe Lejeune passed away on May 6, 2020 after a battle with lung cancer. She continued the work of her late husband, Dr. Jerome Lejeune, in caring and advocating for those with Down syndrome. Her final message to supporters — written just prior to her passing — asks for your continued support of the legacy of Jerome Lejeune, which includes bringing the much-needed healthcare expertise of Jerome Lejeune Foundation to the United States.

Very Dear Friends:

 What a long path we’ve been walking together now for almost 30 years. Some of you already supported Jerome, and since then you are now tens of thousands having joined us to take on this difficult fight to serve the most vulnerable amongst us.

Each day, when we received your gifts and personal letters, I was trying to remember each of your names to ensure you will never become anonymous supporters, but true friends. At the twilight of my life, I still see your names with much gratitude.

You are the core of this work that Jerome initiated. I know that you will not stop after I depart. I will be with you in a different way. And if it is God’s will, with Jerome we will keep caring for the patients, the foundation, and the institute.

Big hugs, with all my love,

Birthe

April 2020
…
Dr. Lejeune was a geneticist and pediatrician who discovered the cause of Down syndrome, and one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century. Madame Lejeune built The Friends of Jerome Lejeune, Jerome Lejeune Foundation, and Jerome Lejeune Institute to carry on her husband’s legacy and continue “the fight he waged all his life.”

Madame Lejeune's Vision for the United States

It was Madame Lejeune’s vision that the foundation’s work would take hold in countries throughout the world. That dream was first realized in 2011 when the Jerome Lejeune Foundation USA was founded.

On her last visit to the United States in 2017, Madame Lejeune shared her expanded vision of bringing the healthcare expertise of the Jerome Lejeune Institute to our soil with American pro-life leaders and medical professionals.

When it comes to medical care, individuals with Down syndrome battle a troubling reality:

A lack of medical training addressing the unique needs of patients with Down syndrome
Limited hands-on experience that can lead to miscommunication and misdiagnosis
Time limitations that prevent comprehensive consultations, leaving a heavy, undue burden on family caregivers

The Jerome Lejeune Legacy Fund will support state-of the-art medical care for children and adults with Down syndrome in North America.

The Jerome Lejeune medical center is on track to open in fall 2020.

Be a Part of the Vision – Celebrate Madame Lejeune’s Life with a Spiritual Bouquet

NOVENA: Join us for a special Novena reflecting on this prayer for nine days, from May 8 through May 16, seeking Dr. Lejeune’s intercessions and offering a spiritual bouquet celebrating the life of Madame Birthe Lejeune.

CONDOLENCES: Offer your sympathy to her family and/or share your thoughts about the work of this amazing woman by emailing [email protected]. Do you have a treasured memory of Madame Lejeune? Share your thoughts and/or condolences on the memory wall honoring her legacy.

SUPPORT: Make Madame Lejeune’s vision and Jerome’s legacy a reality in the United States by contributing to the Jerome Lejeune Legacy Fund. The fund plays a crucial role in supporting the first holistic medical center for children and adults with Down syndrome of all ages in the United States. The center will be modeled after and bringing expertise from the Jerome Lejeune Institute in France.

Make a life-changing impact on the lives of those with Down syndrome