Most of us like to feel that we
have made a difference in someone's life. We give advice,
make donations, and work to fix problems. Yet few of us
actually appreciate how much a difference we have made to
those whose lives we touch. By donating to Familial
Dysautonomia Hope, you have made a tremendous difference
to the hundreds of children and adults with FD. You have
brought them a hope for a cure.
Not a day goes by when I am not
reminded of the devastating course of FD. With each season
I remember the Yahrzeit (the anniversary of a death) of FD
cousins. There are so many to whom you have made a
difference: the children who struggle daily to accomplish
simple tasks that you and I take for granted; the untold
numbers of children yet to be born with FD; and even those
who are alive only in our memories. They are all touched
by your generosity. You have made a difference to all of
them.
Your donations of money, time, and
effort have been the backbone of FD Hope. Without these
contributions, FD Hope could not exist and our
accomplishments would never have occurred. Over the past
year we have been successful in many of our endeavors. Our
most significant efforts have been in the area of science
and research (working with the National Institutes of
Health [NIH] and with funded researchers) as well as in
the area of outreach. FD Hope's mission is to both find a
cure for our children as well as educate the public so
that couples will know if they are at risk for having a
child with FD. Through our mission, we can make FD, like
small pox, a disease of the past.
Prevention, treatment and cure.
These are our goals. With your help, we will reach them.
