Brady's Bunch Miles for Mito 5k...

• 5K Run/Walk:- Run 3.1 Miles
• Fun Run:- Run 1 Mile

APRIL 22, 2017
Tecumseh Harrison Elementary School
2116 N. 2nd Street -Vincennes, IN. 47591

MISSION STATEMENT
To promote research and
education for the diagnosis,
treatment, and cure of
mitochondrial disorders and
to provide support to affected
individuals and families.

Brady Sterchi RESEARCH FUND

Brady Sterchi was born on March 23, 2007.
His fight against mitochondrial disease started in
infancy, but he wasn’t diagnosed until right after
his second birthday. He was diagnosed with
mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic
acidosis, and stroke (MELAS) syndrome, which
is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
Brady suffered a stroke at 23 months of age. His
temperature was 106.3 and his blood sugar was
at 10. He was having uncontrolled seizures and
was put in a medically induced coma for nine
days.
“Mito” as we call it, is a progressive disease that
occurs when the mitochondria of our cells fail to
produce energy for organ function, leading to organ
failure; therefore, it can affect the whole body.
In Brady’s case, his brain is affected. After his initial
strokes, Brady couldn’t do the things he was
doing before. He had to relearn how to hold up
his head, crawl, walk, and everything in between.
When Brady came home from the hospital, he
was having numerous seizures a day and essentially
was like a 6 week old. He was fed through
an NG tube until it was decided within a couple
months to have a gastrostomy tube placed for
nutrition. Today, Brady’s seizures are controlled
with medication and he is 100% tube fed.
Diseases of the mitochondria appear to cause
the most damage to cells of the brain, heart, liver,
skeletal muscles, kidney, endocrine, and respiratory
systems. Depending on which cells are
affected, symptoms can differ. Brady’s symptoms
include problems with motor control, sensory issues,
swallowing difficulties, poor growth, vomiting,
respiratory complications, developmental
delays, and susceptibility to illnesses.