Jeffrey never knew how he would change our lives and the lives of so many thousands of children he would never meet, forever.
We used to ask ourselves, would there ever be research that would change the lives of patients like Jeffrey? Could children in generations to follow even dare to dream of a normal childhood? We had to Do Something to fulfill his unanswered prayers.
Our constant motivation is our JMF “Kids” who inspire us, propel us, and compel us to continue our journey. Their underlying Primary Immunodeficiency disease interrupts their activities, detours their plans, and shatters their dreams. We feel so fortunate to have the privilege to enrich the lives of others, lessen the misery of uncertainty that comes with disease, and save the lives of a precious few.
When we started the Foundation, one of our goals was to make sure that no other child struggling with a PI disease would have to be alone. Inspired by Jeffrey, we created Kids with Immune DeficiencieS (KIDS) Day, a fun-filled day away from hospitals and doctor’s offices where families can meet each other, connect, and develop friendships in a casual environment. KIDS Day is provided at no cost to patients and their families. It is our sincere hope that these events provide some light and fun for our JMF Kids who sadly miss so much of their normal childhood stuck in doctor’s offices or sick at home.
There have been over 600 KIDS Days since we started the program, and we are thrilled that in-person events are once again becoming a possibility. It is thanks to you, our community of constant supporters, that we are creating a brighter future for children living with PI so that stories like Jeffrey’s become rare.
Happy International Children’s Day to all of our JMF Kids all over the world – you are our forever inspiration and motivation for encouraging change and progress!