Dr. Jérôme Lejeune: future saint?

Many people give all the credit to Dr. John Langdon, an English physician for "discovering Down syndrome, after all, it was named after him. In 1866 he published an accurate description of individuals with Down syndrome, he described the similarities between them.

BUT more of the credit should go to Dr. Jérôme Jean Louis Marie Lejeune. In 1958 he discovered the extra 21st chromosome. Dr. Lejeune dedicated his life to individuals with Down syndrome and trying to improve the lives of all individuals with Down syndrome. He is known as the Father of Modern Genetics.

Dr. Lejeune was a devote Catholic and close friends with Pope John Paul II who made him the first President of the Pontifical Council for Life. They remained friends until the day Dr. Lejeune died.

In 2007, Dr. Lejeune's beatification was opened. We may have the future saint for families of children with Down syndrome on our hands. We just need to hope and pray that this happens. I find myself praying to Dr. Lejeune whenever Joey is sick praying that he intercedes and heals Joey quickly.

 Here in the United States we have the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation that provides "research, care, and advocacy to benefit those with genetic intellectual disabilities. This is carried out by conducting, promoting, and funding in the United States therapeutically oriented research; by assisting in the development of healthcare services for these individuals; and by serving as their advocate in a spirit of respect for the dignity of all human persons."

I don't have the writing skills to give Dr. Lejeune enough credit and explain all of his life's work for our beautiful children. Below are some of my favorite articles and other blog posts about Dr. Lejeune.

• The Legacy of Dr. Jérôme Lejeune
• Asking for the intercession of Servant of God Dr Jerome Lejeune
• Doctor who Found Cause of Down Syndrome Moves Closer to Canonization
• Jerome Lejeune, A Saintly Scientist

“Never tire of firmly speaking out in defense of life from its conception and do not be deterred from the commitment to defend the dignity of every human person with courageous determination. Christ is with you: be not afraid!”
Pope John Paul II