I’m very honored that me and my wife have been selected as one of the 30 people under the age of 30 who have contributed to our community in some manor. Although we feel we have a ton of work to accomplish, the Niemann-Pick Children’s Fund, Inc is dear to our heart. Our two oldest son’s Brisan and Parker Stults were diagnosed with a rare FATAL neurological disease called Niemann-Pick Type C Disease. Sometimes referred to as the “Childhood Alzheimer’s” because of the similar pathological features they share. They only have a childhood to live a lifetime. Continue Reading
You possibly can recall someone you knew that suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Currently 5.3 million Americans are living with this progressive and fatal brain disease with no cure (www.Alz.org). Alzheimer’s is progressively devastating in how it destroys brain cells, causes loss of memory (progressive dementia), and problems with intellectual functions that affect many of the things you and I take for granted. Alzheimer’s is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States (www.Alz.org).
In comparison to Niemann-Pick Type C Disease (NPC), it has maybe less than a 100 people currently living in the U nited States. Many sources state that 500 cases have been diagnosed ever worldwide. That’s not exactly as common of disease as Alzheimer’s. NPC is described as a genetic degenerative neurological disorder that mostly strikes during childhood that stores fatty lipids in the brain, liver, spleen, and bone marrow because of the cells inability to metabolize cholesterol. Although uncommon, adult onset can take place with NPC. Outcome is also fatal with no cure. Continue Reading