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What is Bennet's Green Team?
A slice of Bennet's life in picturs
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Bennet during his last hospital stay in August. He's always so positive you'd never know his intestinal tract wasn't working  when this picture was taken. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In February we found out that Bennet has an Uncatorigized Mitochondrial Disorder/Disease that is robbing him of his health.

UMDF.org discribes it this way: "Mitochondrial diseases result from failures of the mitochondria, specialized compartments present in every cell of the body except red blood cells. Mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support growth. Wh...en they fail, less and less energy is generated within the cell. Cell injury and even cell death follow. If this process is repeated throughout the body, whole systems begin to fail, and the life of the person in whom this is happening is severely compromised."

In Bennet's case it affects his muscles, autonomic nervous system and especially his gastrointestinal tract resulting in the need for oxygen full time, special formula fed through a tube and several medications and suppliments. He has been hospitalized 14 times resulting in a total of 107 days of his life spent away from his home.

This disease is not well known so funding for research from organizations big and small is very minimal compared to better known diseases. Without awareness people will not know that children all over the country are suffering and dying of this disease, many before they ever reach school age. The younger symptoms appear the worse the prognosis. In Bennet's case he has shown symptoms since birth and will be 3 in November.

There is currently a promising treatment in clinical trials showing results that could potentially prolong Bennet's life long enough to see a cure. Right now that treatment has to be absorbed through the intestinal tract and at the moment Bennet's is beginning to fail him. An IV version needs to be created! We need prayer that God would reveal to the researchers working on the project just what it is they need to do to bring an IV version from research to a viable treatment option. We also need to raise more funds to help the researchers be able to allocate more resources to the project. Please help us raise awareness, please help us raise funds for this project and please help us raise prayer support for it as well. If you are local to us please join us for our walk, if not please take a walk for Bennet on September 18th or buy and wear an awareness bracelet or ribbon.
 
Energy for Life Walkathon
Awareness Walk Details:
When: September 18th at 4:30pm
Where: Downtown Grand Rapids, MI
Why: To raise awareness for Mitochondrial Disease
What to wear: Comfortable walking shoes and a green shirt if you have it. Green is the color of Mito Awareness and Bennet's Green Team!
email: Nina@ambiancetc.com for more information and parking instructions.

 
 
Energy for Life Walkathon
Awareness Walk Details:
When: September 18th at 4:30pm
Where: Downtown Grand Rapids, MI
Why: To raise awareness for Mitochondrial Disease
What to wear: Comfortable walking shoes and a green shirt if you have it. Green is the color of Mito Awareness and Bennet's Green Team!
email: Nina@ambiancetc.com for more information and parking instructions.
 
 
Ways You Can Help
 
There are three ways you can help Bennet right now!
 
Number 1: Sponsor Bennet's Green Team for our Awareness Walk!
 
Our entire family in addition to many family and friends will be walking 2 miles around downtown Grand Rapids, MI on September 18th in an effort to raise awareness and funds. (Well, Bennet will be strolled!) Please sponsor our walk with a donation of any amount. 100%  will be passed directly on to researchers at the Mitochondrial Disease Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital who are working on a treatment option. This program is under-funded and we would greatly appreciate your help! To donate please click on the link below to be brought to Bennet's "Packard Page" and click on the "Make a Donation: button. A receipt will be emailed to you.
 

Bennet's Green Team-Mitochondrial Disease Research

 
 
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Number 2:  Donation to UMDF for General Awareness and Support
 
You can also make a general donation directly to www.umdf.org. At the bottom of the donation page please select "In Honor of" Bennet Van Harn and put the email address: nina@ambiancetc.com in the "inform the following persons" box so we know about your gift!  Click here: Donate Directly to UMDF the UMDF is the leader in funding multiple researchers and supporting families who have a loved one with Mito. We love them!
 
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Number 3: Awareness/Prayer items
 
You can bring awareness to Mitochondrial Disease and be reminded to pray for Bennet all year round with the purchase of an Awareness Bracelet or Ribbon! 100% of the proceeds go to fund the work at the Mitochondrial Disease Program at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. These items are handmade with love by Bennet's family and friends.
 
Items Available
Glass Beaded Bracelet           Plastic Beaded Bracelet with & without charm