Sulam Yaakov

YAAKOV, ONLY SIX YEARS OLD… The nightmare of every parent became our reality. Our son Yaakov was diagnosed as suffering from DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy), a difficult, terminal illness accompanied by great suffering on the part of the child and those around him. ♥ ♥ ♥ BUT WE DECIDED TO FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE, FOR OUR LIVES, AND FOR OTHER CHILDREN WITH DMD ♥ ♥ ♥ There are several variations of this disease, depending on the particular part of the gene that has been damaged. For some of the children medications have been found that impede the disease. For our child as of now there is no medication. A procedure must be made to create a special medication for his gene. This entire process is not subsidized by government funds. ♥ ♥ ♥ All we can do is to invest in this procedure. Yakov needs hundreds of hours of research, focusing on his damaged gene – and then there is a possibility of creating a medication that would stop the deterioration and keep Yakov alive. The minute the medication is found it can stop the deterioration at the point where the illness is on that day. Currently Yakov's state has been deteriorating gradually day by day. One day Yakov was still walking, the next day Yakov started commuting in a wheel chair….. ♥ ♥ ♥ Children in Yakov's state do not receive financing by government subsidies for medication. In the hospital ward they referred us to researchers at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital who specialize in the field. The researchers claim that it is possible. ♥ ♥ ♥ The cost of such a research study that includes hundreds of research hours and purchase of laboratory mice and special equipment begins at a million Israeli Shekels. Our relatives have given the maximum they can and we are appealing to other bodies – the first round of collection for the immediate start of a process to achieve the medication. If we were able to finance it ourselves, we would do it. Our relatives have been recruited to finance the maximum that they can. Our appeal for public assistance is not easy for us but we are in a state of no choice. ♥ ♥ ♥ The money is transferred to a special fund opened for Yakov and from there it is only used for the specific medication for Yakov. The family has no access to the money at any point, not even to improve the child's daily life. The money collected is destined only for the research. We truly hope that the medication will be found soon and many other children can be saved. ♥ ♥ ♥ Thanking you in advance from our hearts, Edna and Rami Abutbul ♥ ♥ ♥