Ethan's Mitzvah Project

Hello Family and Friends,

My Bar Mitzvah project is very important to me because when I was five years old, I was diagnosed with a rare disease called Legg-Calve-Perthes, in my right hip. Perthes is when the blood supply to the femoral head of the hip joint is temporarily disrupted. This causes the bone to die, which damages the hip joint, and deforms the ball of the femur and the hip socket. After the disease runs its course, there is new bone growth but the degree of damage to the hip can cause pain and disability into adulthood.

Having Perthes was very painful and frightening. I was so young and didn't understand why this was happening to me. I could not run and play like the other kids and wore an awful brace at night to ensure the bone regrew properly. I also had one surgery that stopped my undamaged growth plate from continuing to grow and helped balance my pelvis. It was a tough time for my family and me.

I'm happy to report that I have had an excellent outcome and can run and play with little discomfort. Many other Perthes kids are not as lucky as me and end up with significant disabilities that make it hard for them to enjoy regular kid activities and cause ongoing pain.

The Perthes Kids Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, was established to raise global awareness and support children and families dealing with Legg-Calve-Perthes. The Foundation owns, organizes and operates an international camp program so Perthes kids can meet kids like them who might have a limp or other disabilities. Everyone is accepted at camp; it helps campers build confidence and encourages the kids to be themselves.

In honor of my becoming a Bar Mitzvah, I have created this Go Fund Me page to raise money for the Perthes Kids Foundation and make sure that Perthes kids around the world can go to camp and enjoy activities like "normal" kids do. Please help me support the Foundation and provide life-changing experiences for kids suffering from Perthes. Any small amount makes a big difference for these kids!! Thank you for your support.

See this video to learn more about camp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCdgr0qojFU