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About Caroline Virginia Pulliam
Caroline is a vibrant seven-year old who was diagnosed with mitochondrial disease soon after her birth. She has captured the hearts of the entire community and her strength and determination inspire us all.
In the fall of 2005, Caroline's friends created the Caroline Virginia Pulliam Mitochondrial Disease Fund (CVPMDF) through the Spartanburg County Foundation to "support research and awareness for the diagnosis, treatment and cure of mitochondrial disorders and their associated health issues."
To date, the Fund has raised over $835,000.
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A definition of mitochondrial disease...in a mother's own words...
"Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy is a very complex disorder...The majority of the cells in the body have mitochondria, which are the "power house" of the cell (where energy is produced). When the mitochondria are not working properly, cells are not provided with the energy that they need.
One analogy is - you can get oil out of the ground, but it is no good to your car until it is refined into the right type of fuel. The same goes for the body. You can feed the body and provide it with oxygen, but it doesn't help you if your mitochondria can't process it correctly.
With mitochondrial disease, the entire body can be affected. As you would expect, the things that need the most energy to work correctly are the ones that are most affected. This includes the brain, liver, heart, kidneys and muscles.
There is no cure for the diagnosis that Caroline received. In fact, there are not even any drugs with documented benefit. There are some over-the-counter supplements that might help - but are not proven."
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