My name is Emily and my "BMF" (best mom friend) is Alison Zanella.  We met in a support group for parents of special needs children.  Alison's son Dominic and my son are best friends and in the same preschool.  Three out of Alison's four children are in the process of being diagnosed with various forms of Mitochondrial Myopathy and/or other degenerative conditions.  Mitochondrial Myopathy is an unforgiving, terrible condition that is life limiting.  Alison is selfless, constantly providing my family with support, kindness and love.  She is by far the best parent I've met.  I can't imagine the emotional toll it must take on she and her husband to think that three of her children may have life limiting conditions.  

The Larkins boys will be travelling to Cincinnati Children's Hospital to see both the aerodigestive and neuromuscular clinics. This visit will take a week, during this week each of the boys will have multiple procedures done and will see upwards of 5 specialists each during their visit. This is all in an attempt to weave together pieces of their medical puzzle that explain worsening fatigue, cramping, and tone, loss of range, an increase in suspected seizure activity, an increase in feeding difficulty and aspiration and that is just the tip of their iceberg.

There is so much involved in the logistics of this trip, especially in times of COVID, that it is impossible to get everything done in a matter of a day or 2. The costs of lodging and travel for a family of 5, travel that is a medical necessity, is astronomical. This is the first of our medical necessary trips that will be happening over the next few months and we are trying to lessen some of that burden.

Please help my friend, who has NEVER asked for help.  She is all of the things the world needs right now.  Josh needs his best friend Dom,  and I know that with your help, they can find the answers that they need.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.