Many sufferers of Friedreich's ataxia do not survive past their twenties so, given his condition, Jourdain did remarkably well to live until he was only days short of his 40th birthday.
Maraming mga sufferers ng Friedreich's ataxia hindi matirang buhay sa kanilang nakaraang twenties kaya, binigay na ang kanyang kalagayan, Jourdain ay halatang-halata din sa live hanggang siya ay maikli lamang ang araw ng kanyang ika-40 kaarawan.