WHAT IS MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE?

A parent's Guide

The news from your doctor that your child has a mitochondrial condition is

normally received with bewilderment; the next thought, what is Mitochondria. For

most people school biology is but a distant memory, I had no idea what my doctor

was talking about.

I simply asked him how we fix it, his answer left me feeling numb and chilled

to the bone on a very hot summer's day in Newcastle, Australia. I was told my

son would not live to see his third birthday, "your son has an incurable

disease".

Jack my boy was sitting on my lap looking up so very expectantly, he could not

understand why his once strong father was shaking and had tears running down his

face, and thankfully he could not feel or sense my fear. That very moment I felt

the greatest achievement of my life had been taken from me in a moment, there

was no war or famine or even a natural disaster to blame. I just felt gutted, a

sense of hopelessness swept over me.

It took me many months to stem the tears yet whilst I write this page I feel

them again; My son is now 3 years and 4 months old, I feel as though I have

concurred an invading Army, holding them at a narrow pass whilst we rebuild our

forces. I now have hope, my son Jack is healthy and happy whilst he cannot talk,

walk or even feed himself yet he gets stronger every day.

Jack's fight is to stay alive long enough for a cure to be found, my job is to

find that cure or support the people who will make that discovery. If you're a

parent who has only recently been given this news I am here to give you HOPE.

The world is on the brink of making a discovery. This is my promise to my son,

it is also my promise to you. I may only be one man in Perth, Australia but we

the MITO families are linked thru the power of the internet we will find a cure

there is no other alternative.

What is Mitochondrial Disease?

The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation offers this analogy to help you

understand. If your power goes out in your home, your food spoils, your

heating/air conditioning does not work, and you're left in darkness. You call

your local power supplier to report the problem.

The Mitochondria is the part of the cell responsible for energy production. It

is very much like the power supplier that provides energy to your home. If the

mitochondria are defective, your

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