Sep 19, 2008 3:34 pm US/Eastern
Family Battles Little-Known Childhood Illness
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
There is a relatively common childhood illness that most people have never heard of.
Mitochondrial diseases are nearly as common as childhood cancer.
Matthew Hardy is almost three, but still can't walk because he suffers from a mitochondrial disease which hampers his body's ability to provide energy.
"At six months, we noticed a big difference between him and his twin sister," Matthew's father Paul explained. "She was hitting all her milestones, and Matthew was pretty far behind."
Matthew is now on a special diet and monitored by a team of specialists at
Children's Hospital Boston.
"He can't make energy which helps him grow and allows his organs to grow normally and his brain to develop," Paul said. "It's obviously very serious."
That is why Matthew's family is trying to raise money for the families of other patients and raise awareness about mitochondrial diseases.
"We feel like we want to help others," said Sarah Hardy, Matthew's mother. "We have so much support from our family and friends."
"We're just hopeful he'll grow up to be big and strong like his sister, but it's been a long haul," said Paul. "It's very difficult. There isn't a knowledge base out there."
The Hardy family is also hopeful researchers will find better ways to treat Matthew's illness, and someday even find a cure for these diseases.
"It would be amazing. He's great kid but it would help him and so many other people."
The Mito Action Committee is
holding a fundraising walk on Sunday, September 21st.
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