If
you've been following my blog, you'll know that I was born with Gaucher disease,
a genetic disorder unknowingly passed on from my parents; a birthright I could have well done without. I was further
diagnosed with Parkinson's at age 44, so I wear two hats as it were, advocating
both diseases.
October
is Gaucher Awareness Month so step ahead of Gaucher disease during this month,
show your support for the Gaucher community and join by wearing green shoelaces
as a symbolic gesture. In America, Genzyme Corp. have come up with this
original campaign, and throughout the month of October, anyone wearing green
shoe laces (or as a bracelet if preferred) may submit a photograph and upload
it to www.stepsaheadof gaucher.com. In turn, Genzyme Corp. will make a donation
on your behalf to the National Gaucher Foundation.
As an overlooked rare disorder, help promote
awareness and unity in the fight against Gaucher, most importantly, get people
to notice and become educated about this rare disease! Please help me and the
10,000 known Gaucher patients throughout the world, spread the word by sharing
this message and passing my website on to your family and friends.
Gaucher disease is
caused by a deficiency in a particular enzyme (glucocerebrosidase). The body is
more fragile than we imagine and when one small thing is thrown out of whack or
is amiss, like a domino effect, the outcome can be highly damaging. Genetics a
complicated subject, was once explained to me, as if a recipe for a cake had a error
in the list of ingredients. Imagine a recipe with a mistake calling for a cup
of salt instead of a cup of sugar! The cake would probably bake equally well,
and served on a plate it might even look like any ordinary cake, but take one
bite and you would immediately know from the unpalatable taste that something
was definitely amiss. One simple wrong ingredient, too much or too little of
something, can make a world of difference. From bone pain and severe fatigue to
life-threatening complications, it is challenging for patients and caregivers
to cope with Gaucher.Learn more about Gaucher disease disease from Gaucher Care.
No comments:
Post a Comment