By Susan Ciancio
“The quality of a civilization can be measured by the respect it has for its weakest members. There is no other criterion.” – Dr. Jérôme Lejeune
Dr. Jérôme Lejeune, the French geneticist who discovered the genetic cause of Down syndrome, spent his life advocating for the protection of people with Down syndrome. But he did much more than that. He taught a world that lived in fear of people with Down syndrome that they are actually gifts to cherish and not discard and that they have unlimited potential and vast worth.
This is the reason that, throughout the month of October, we celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month. It’s not only a time to celebrate those with DS, but it’s a time to make them feel seen and loved for who they are as children of God.
To illustrate this, three organizations have teamed up to assist families in the DS community.
EveryLife is pro-life diaper company cofounded by Sarah Gabel Seifert with the belief that “every baby is a miracle from God who deserves to be loved, protected, and supported.” Proceeds from their sales regularly go to pregnancy resource centers, but during special times of year, such as the first nine days of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, EveryLife’s Buy for a Cause program is doing something even more incredible. It’s teaming up with Team Iron Will and The Burger Family Foundation to gift a month’s worth of diapers and wipes to families within the Down syndrome community.
From now through October 9, anyone who donates to the Buy for a Cause program will help make a huge impact for families in need. A $50 donation to this cause gives a full month of diapers and wipes to a family chosen specifically by Team Iron Will and The Burger Family Foundation.
Team Iron Will, cofounded by Catherine and Andrew Daub after their youngest son was born with Down syndrome, equips “families with tools, therapy, and community, and fights for a world that sees the value of every person with Down syndrome at every stage of life.”
When EveryLife reached out to Team Iron Will with this incredible proposal for a diaper drive, saying they wanted to partner with them to bless as many people as possible in the Down syndrome community, they asked Catherine if she knew anyone else who could participate. She knew right away it would be the Burgers.
The Burger Family Foundation, cofounded by Jake and Ashlyn Burger, “is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.” They founded their organization after the birth of their daughter Penelope, who has Down syndrome. Jake Burger, first baseman for the Texas Rangers, wears the number 21 in honor of his daughter, and he and his wife have been tremendous advocates for her since her birth. As their site states, “Our journey with Penelope has ignited a passion to create something bigger than baseball. What started as a dream to make a difference has turned into a mission to champion inclusion, celebrate abilities, and support families like ours in meaningful ways.”
Ashlyn Burger shared, “Every diaper collected during this drive is so much more than a basic necessity—it’s a tangible sense of relief and dignity for a family in need. By uniting with EveryLife and Team Iron Will to uplift these parents, we are actively standing up for these children who deserve to be born and empowering these families to thrive wherever they are on their journey.”
Both Team Iron Will and The Burger Family Foundation believe that children with Down syndrome are incredible gifts, and they want to make their families feel seen and valued. This diaper drive is a beautiful way to do this.
Seifert, CEO of EveryLife, agrees and stated:
At EveryLife, we believe every child is a gift from God worthy of celebration and love. With over 60% of prenatal Down syndrome diagnoses ending in abortion, it’s important for us to stand both vocally and tangibly with these families and celebrate the beautiful lives of children with Down syndrome. This diaper drive is about supporting the families who choose life for these precious children and reminding them that they are not alone. When we champion the Down syndrome community, we build a stronger society that recognizes the dignity, value, and worth of every miraculous life.
EveryLife will send the diapers to Team Iron Will and to The Burger Family Foundation, who will then distribute them to families. Catherine explained that TIW knows some families in need, a few with children going through chemo and others with severe medical problems, and they will serve those families, but she also said that people can reach out to her and nominate families.
Catherine shared that what might seem like a small thing to some (a month’s worth of diapers) is actually a huge relief to many. She explained, “It means so much to families who are going through hard things. We try to make sure that we’re gifting these diapers to families who just need to feel a bit of extra love, whether they just got a diagnosis, whether they’re just overwhelmed with all the appointments and the therapies, or whether they’re going through a hard time for whatever reason.”
TIW has partnered with EveryLife in past diaper drives, and Catherine knows the immense impact it can have on families. She stated that she has received grateful messages from families who shared that they couldn’t afford groceries or other necessities and then a box of diapers showed up and they felt so blessed and relieved. Catherine stated, “I literally feel like I won the lottery myself every time we get to help someone. Sometimes the small things mean the most to people.”
She continued, “This is what we like to do for people—just make sure that they know they are seen, they are loved, they are valued, and they are celebrated.”
This is one of the many reasons we celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month. And through their daily support and advocacy, EveryLife, Team Iron Will, and The Burger Family Foundation not only spread awareness, but they help teach love and compassion for people in the DS community. They are truly living out Dr. Jérôme Lejeune’s message of hope and courage.
This article first appeared in LifeSiteNews at lifesitenews.com/opinion/more-than-diapers-bringing-hope-to-families-of-children-with-down-syndrome.