Now we know Katherine has a Mitochondrial disease.
What is a mitochondrial disease, is the question many of you may be asking. Well I'll tell you.
The Mitochondria are like the bodies power plants, creating the energy the body requires to sustain life, much like the power plant creates the power to sustain the city. If the mitochondria are defective, the body will not be able to function normally. Symptoms may include but are not limited to brain damage, muscle spasticity, cardiac problems, and visual impairment. Life is compromised, altered, and can be prematurely ended. At this time there is no cure.
DID YOU KNOW THAT:
There are more than 200 different inherited diseases of the body�s metabolism that are known to affect the mitochondria
More than 1 in 4000 children will be born and develop mitochondrial disease by the age of 10 and many more will never be properly diagnosed
Both Mitochondrial Disease and Childhood Cancer have a mortality range of 10-50% depending on the specific disease
Usually involves three of more of the body�s organs. At any age and anytime.
Mitochondrial defects have been linked to Parkinson�s, Alzheimer Dementia, Heart Disease and Cancer
At this time there is no cure and only experimental treatments.