Each year 4,000 children are born with Mitochondrial Disease and 2,000 more will develop the disease by the age of 10. This is Brady's story and a way that you can help raise funds to find a cure for this disease.
When Brady was just 23 months old his fever spiked and his blood sugar dropped. He was rushed to the hospital and placed in a medically induced coma to stop the uncontrollable seizures he was experiencing. From then on life changed for Brady and his family. He was diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease, a disease that prevents the mitochondria of the cells from producing the energy that they need to function. Brady's brain was affected and he had to relearn everything...how to hold up his head, sit up, crawl. Brady is still 100% tube-fed and receives medication to control his seizures.
We have both been lucky to have Brady as a student in our Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms.
Over the past two years, Brady and his family have taught his classmates and teachers so much about compassion, understanding, acceptance, and sacrifice. One of his friends made sure to bring Brady a sucker for her birthday snack because she knew he couldn't eat the other snacks and didn't want him to be left out. When he is out at a doctor's appointment the students (ALL of them) ask worriedly where he is and are visibly relieved to find out he is okay. The kids are ever so careful when they see Brady being tube fed throughout the day, they know if they bump into Ms. Cindy (his aide) they could make a mess or pull out Brady's feeding tube.
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Brady is a fighter wrapped up in a tiny body. Because Brady's mitochondrial disease affects his brain, he has to work twice as hard to do anything in class… has to think harder, concentrate more, practice more… and he never complains. He's just like any other kid… he loves swimming, camping, playing baseball, RECESS (boy does this kid love his recess)… but he's also a kid who (with the help of his family, research, and medicines) is fighting a terminal illness whose research is underfunded.
We need a cure for Brady and kids like him who are suffering from this disease. When you purchase this bundle the proceeds will be donated to The Energy for Life Walk in Brady's Honor which supports awareness and promotes research, treatments to finding a cure for mitochondrial disease.
These generous teachers have donated some of their best products for this bundle….
If you would like to learn more about Mitochondrial disease you can find more information at www.umdf.org
Thank you for your support!
Stephany & Stephanie
Special thanks to Melonheadz Illustrating for creating our Brady & Mito Ribbon clipart!
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