Professor Jerome Lejeune at his institute in Paris was the first to discover that an extra chromosome is the cause of Down's Syndrome. He recognised the importance of folic acid in the prevention of further retardation in these children and that the floppiness so often detected in them was due to thyroid dysfunction. He investigated the relevance of various arnino acids in the treatment of the condition. The clinic, he established, treated 8,000 children. In 1994, Professor Lejeune was the first President of the Pontifical Academy for Life.
His uncompleted research is so promising that the Guild of Catholic Doctors' Research Trust and the Anna Fund arranged for a clinic to be established in the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in London, where the work, of the Professor continues. Down's children are seen at regular intervals for assessments, tests and treatment. Professor Lejeune did not live to publish the results of his pioneering work, but there can be no doubt from his papers that great mental improvement was achieved in some children.
The Help Campaign for the benefit of the Clinic is being launched to enable it to continue and expand its work. The Lejeune Clinic opened in 1995 and registered as a charity in 1997. It is manned by a team of paediatricians, psychologists, haematologists and speech therapists. Children attend from all over the British Isles and Southern Ireland and there are already 120 attending. The consultants have already discovered that as well as thyroid deficiency a large number of the children have a serious Iron deficiency and an above average minority have a congenital high blood cholesterol. These can he treated easily and cheaply, which will help to improve their intelligence. The waiting list is constantly growing with children from all over the country seeking, through their parents and their GPs, the help the clinic can give them. The care and assessment provided is complementary to that already obtained in their local areas.
Domenica Lawson with her godmother Diana the late Princess of Wales (by kind permission of the Lawson family)
The Help Campaign to expand the learning and potential of children with Down's Syndrome was launched in the Jubilee Room of the House of Commons on Monday 5th June. Madame Lejeune, who came over for the occasion from Paris, was the star guest. She was accompanied by Mme. Corinne Bebin, Director of the Lejeune Medical Centre in Paris. Madame Lejeune spoke of her great pleasure that a major clinic had been established in London to further the principles established by her husband and expressed her great delight that it had already proved itself to be so successful. Over 120 children are now registered and important leads have already been established to further their progress.
The launch was hosted by Dominic Greaves MP for Beaconsfield, and among the other MPs who attended, were the Rt. Hon. Ann Widdecombe, Dale Campbell- Savours, and Simon Hughes. The Media were well represented, and satisfactory coverage was obtained in the press. Other guests included representatives from the hospital, members of the staff of the clinic and many benefactors. Dr. Doherty introduced the guests. Ann Widdecombe outlined her hopes for the clinic and how essential it is to dispel the 'Search and destroy attitude' current in society when discussing children. Dr. Tony Cole and Dr. Tukmachi described the methods used in the assessment of the children and the promising research lines it is hoped to follow.
Of particular importance were some of the children and their parents who had taken part in the preparation of a video outlining the work of the clinic.
The video, entitled More to know More to Achieve prepared by the BBC Resources Unit, with the co-operation of the hospital and many of the children and parents attending the clinic, was given its first public showing. Nicholas Vaughan-Fowler, aged 17, treated by Professor Lejeune almost since birth, was the star of the film: he acted most competently as the compére.
Altogether a remarkable launch: grateful thanks are expressed to the many people who organised it so efficiently.
It is evident that, if the Help Campaign is successful, so much more can be done for these children. The staff of the clinic are dedicated and brimming with ideas. The patrons are distinguished, some with Down's children of their own, and have promised their full support.
Leslie and Jane Grantham together with their son Danny and Dominic Grieve MP at the launch of the HELP campaign in the House of Commons