Stacy Spurlock

Not by Chance Stacy Spurlock

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table. MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:#0400;mso-fareast-language:#0400;mso-bidi-language:#0400;}Because of the complexity involved in diagnosing it is hardto pin down an exact number, but each year between 1,000 and 4,000 children areborn in the United Stateswith mitochondrial disease. Thesechildren suffer from severe life devastating symptoms for which there iscurrently no cure of effective treatment. Many of these children will not livebeyond their teen years. This is thestory of one child who suffered from mitochondrial disease, my child. Chance was born a perfect baby boy on February 23,2007. One week later he was hospitalized for the first time. Thatwould mark the beginning of the life that we would soon find ourselves throwninto. We spent nine months fighting for the life of our child. Wefought medically to find a solution, we fought spiritually to stay strong andbelieve, we now fight just make it through the day and remain a family intact.