Our daughter, Megan Grace was born on August 3, 2003. She was diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease (complex 1) on December 2, 2004, at the age of 16 months.
This disease affects those diagnosed very differently. Megan's disease specifically has caused her to have significant developmental delay, dyspraxia, gastrointestinal problems, severe gastro-esophageal reflux, slow growth, sensory processing disorder, heat intolerance, speech and feeding difficulties. Megan has a continuous drip through a g-tube for all of her nutrition because she is unable to eat.
Megan so far is coping with her disabilities through the help of many specialists and therapists. She is responding to the supplements and progressing in a good way, however the doctors can not give us any idea of what the future holds. For now, there are no proven treatments for mitochondrial disease. There is no cure.
What is Mitochondrial Disease?
Problems associated with this disease are caused by defective mitochondria - the parts of the cell that generate energy. Mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth.
When they fail, less and less energy is generated within the cell. Cell injury and even cell death follow. If this process is repeated throughout the body, whole systems begin to fail, and the life of the person is severely compromised.
Diseases of the mitochondria appear to cause most damage to the cells of the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscles, kidney, and endocrine and respiratory systems.
These diseases are considered progressive, although the path of the progression is unknown.
For more information about Mitochondrial Disease : www.UMDF.org
