Honorary Chair:
Mary Kay Koenig, MD
Neuro-Metabolic and Mitochondrial Clinic Director
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Dr. Mary Kay Koenig is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She received her medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine and trained in Pediatrics at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Dr. Koenig completed a fellowship in Pediatric Neurology at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston and joined the faculty in the Division of Child and Adolescent Neurology in 2007. For more information about her clinic, click here.

Dr. Koenig's areas of specialty care include:
General Pediatric Neurology, Mitochondrial Disorders (adults and children), Tuberous Sclerosis, Neurogenetic Disorders, Neurometabolic Disorders

Dr. Koenig is recognized nationally for her efforts in the mitochondrial disease community. We are grateful for her involvement with the UMDF and for her positive impact in the care of patients and families battling mitochondrial disorders in the southwest.

We plan to greet her with a warm Louisiana WELCOME!

LOCATION: Jubilee Center, Sulphur, LA (map)
DATE: March 28, 2008
TIME: 6:30 pm until 11:30 pm
EVENT: Dinner*, Dance, Silent Auction, and Raffle**
TICKETS: $25 per person (in advance), $30 per person (door)

Checks can be mailed to:
Jude's Fais Do-Do for MITO
P.O. Box 933
Sulphur, LA 70664

Credit Card: Call 1-888-317-UMDF or pay online (secure)
CLICK HERE TO PAY ONLINE.

*Each ticket-holder will enjoy a buffet (click here for menu) with two drink tickets, an evening of dancing, raffle (included in price of ticket), and silent auction.

Your support of mitochondrial research is two-fold.
1. You help children and adults with mitochondrial defects--defects in energy production. See, your mitochondria fuel your cells by converting food to energy. Just as your car needs fuel, so does your body.
2. Once considered rare, mitochondrial dysfunction is now known to play a major role in human disease. Mitochondrial research holds great promise for those with Alzheimer's, ALS, Type 2 Diabetes, Parkinson's, heart disease, and even cancer, and they don't even know it! Want to read the articles?

Why be a part of Jude's living legacy?
Last year at an event, I watched a young girl slowly wheel her way on a stage. I watched this hopeless, beautiful girl involve herself in volunteerism and fundraising that will help many people, but probably not her. She was humble and considered it her duty, even knowing that she would not likely benefit from her hard work. I thought of the verse, "Even so on your part, when you have done everything that was assigned and commanded you, say, We are unworthy servants [possessing no merit, for we have not gone beyond our obligation]; we have [merely] done what was our duty to do."

This girl has a living legacy that will live far beyond her years. Her example will burn in my heart until the day I die. We can't guarantee Jude or anyone else a long, happy life, but we can all build our own living legacy that will have an impact on others.

What is wrong with Jude? He looks perfectly normal!
Read his story.

How would you feel if your precious child had a potentially life-threatening disease that even the best of doctors do not understand, and the best thing you could give him was over-the-counter CoQ10 and Vitamin C?

Did you know?
Both mitochondrial diseases and childhood cancers range in mortality by 10 to 50 percent per year, depending on the specific disease. The only difference is that one you have heard of, and one you have not.

Where does my money go?
With your help, Jude will soon hand-deliver a research grant to a world-renowned researcher who work towards better diagnoses and treatments to help others avoid suffering like Jude's, and at the very least will give our little man another chance to see a cure. UMDF's Scientific and Medical Advisory Board monitors this process and selects the best researchers through the Research Grant Program.