Help Michael Live
Donation protected
This page is to help raise funds for Michael Gratkowski and his wife as they navigate a challenging medical situation. Michael was diagnosed last October with a rare genetic progressive neurological disease called Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD). MLD causes gradual loss of all brain function (logic, reasoning, sight, hearing, the ability to walk, the ability to eat, etc.), eventually leading to death. Michael has the adult onset form of MLD, which is the most rare form of the disease, affecting around 1 in 1,000,000 people.
After initially being told that there was no treatment for his condition, Michael traveled to consult a specialist in Pittsburgh in April. While there, Michael learned that a bone marrow transplant can dramatically slow or halt the progression of MLD. Because the condition is progressive and the transplant is only effective if done before peripheral nerve damage begins, it is imperative that this procedure be done as soon as possible. A
bone marrow match has been found for Michael, and he and his wife Meg are in Pittsburgh to undergo the procedure at UPMC Children's Hospital. UPMC houses the leading clinic in the nation for this disease, the Program for the Study of Neurodevelopment in Rare Disorders. The procedure involves a month of
chemotherapy to wipe out Michael's immune system, and then after the transplant, several months in Pittsburgh until his immune system has recovered enough to travel back home to Dallas.
Because Michael's MLD has been progressing unchecked for several years, he has not been able to keep a job. The cost of the transplant and surrounding needs are extraordinary, and Michael and his wife need help to make this possible. Donations will go toward medical expenses, airfare between Dallas and Pittsburgh, transportation while in Pittsburgh, and housing in Pittsburgh for Michael after he is released from the hospital. We are so grateful that Michael is eligible for this procedure, which can stop the
progress of his MLD and give him a new lease on life. While none of the damage already done in his brain can be reversed, this transplant can preserve Michael's ability to see, think, and walk. Please help out Michael and Meg in whatever way you are able!
After initially being told that there was no treatment for his condition, Michael traveled to consult a specialist in Pittsburgh in April. While there, Michael learned that a bone marrow transplant can dramatically slow or halt the progression of MLD. Because the condition is progressive and the transplant is only effective if done before peripheral nerve damage begins, it is imperative that this procedure be done as soon as possible. A
bone marrow match has been found for Michael, and he and his wife Meg are in Pittsburgh to undergo the procedure at UPMC Children's Hospital. UPMC houses the leading clinic in the nation for this disease, the Program for the Study of Neurodevelopment in Rare Disorders. The procedure involves a month of
chemotherapy to wipe out Michael's immune system, and then after the transplant, several months in Pittsburgh until his immune system has recovered enough to travel back home to Dallas.
Because Michael's MLD has been progressing unchecked for several years, he has not been able to keep a job. The cost of the transplant and surrounding needs are extraordinary, and Michael and his wife need help to make this possible. Donations will go toward medical expenses, airfare between Dallas and Pittsburgh, transportation while in Pittsburgh, and housing in Pittsburgh for Michael after he is released from the hospital. We are so grateful that Michael is eligible for this procedure, which can stop the
progress of his MLD and give him a new lease on life. While none of the damage already done in his brain can be reversed, this transplant can preserve Michael's ability to see, think, and walk. Please help out Michael and Meg in whatever way you are able!
Organizer and beneficiary
Philip Oakley
Organizer
Rochester, MI
Margaret Harper
Beneficiary
