Energy for Life

This morning in Kansas City hundreds of people are gathering to honor loved ones who suffer from a terrible disease called Mitochondrial Disease.  This morning is the Energy for Life Walkathon to support the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation.  

Every 30 minutes a child is born with a mitochondrial disease. Each year, there is an increase in the number of adults who are being diagnosed with mitochondrial disease.

- Research tells us that between 1,000 and 4,000 children are born with a mitochondrial disease each year.

- Research also indicates that 1 in every 200 healthy people may carry the mutation that could develop into

a mitochondrial disease in their lifetime.

- Because mitochondrial disease is complex and not easy to diagnose, most patients suffer symptoms for

months or years before they are accurately diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease.

- The severity of symptoms and how the disease manifests itself varies. One affected individual may have difficulty breathing or suffer from digestive problems, while another may not be able to walk, talk, or see.

If you would like to learn more, please visit the UMDF website or check out these simple  Mito Disease FAQs .

I chose flowers to help support UMDF awareness, because just like flowers, people need energy to live and grow.

Team Tricia from 2011 Energy for Life Walk-a-thon
(Reader R and I are in the front row, next to Tricia!)

My friend Tricia is a freshman in high school, and she has Mitochondrial Disease.  If you don't read any of my other posts, please take a few minutes to watch this video that she made about her journey.

This morning, Team Tricia, is at the Energy for Life Walkathon.  Walking, laughing, hugging, raising money and awareness to support and encourage this sweet young lady who has been sick with Mito for more than three years.

However, Tricia is not with them.  She is in the hospital, again, sick with complications from her Mito.  Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.



Tricia looks like a happy, healthy teenager.  Yet, she suffers from autonomic neuropathy, chronic nerve pain, chronic fatigue, breathing difficulties, delayed gastric emptying, GI motility issues, acid reflux, hypercalciuria, visual impairments, and kidney stones, and oh yeah, and she hasn't eaten by mouth in  years.


Please consider helping to support the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation by sponsoring me for the upcoming "Energy for Life" Walk-a-thon.  Every gift helps.

If you are unable to make a donation at this time, please just take one more minute to visit Tricia's Walkathon page and leave her an encouraging message!  THANK YOU!

Thank you,
Sarah

P.S. - Please be on the look out for additional Mito Disease Awareness posts this coming week.  One of them will have a GIVEAWAY that you won't want to miss!