MISSION
The Alpha-1 Foundation is dedicated to
providing the leadership and resources
that will result in increased research,
improved health, worldwide detection,
and a cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.

Many of you know that I have been diagnosed with this devastating disease. I am participating in and contributing to as many events and fund raisers as I can for the foundation, I owe a great deal to them and I am happy to help anyway I can. Our next project is the GW Bridge walk on May 7th....please give what you can to help raise funds for our mission. Thank you!

My story started on June 30th, 2010. It was the day my life changed forever. My son Elias and I were at the Mamaroneck Fireman's Parade, it was a typical summer night.

Later that night I had a sudden, excruciating pain in my gut.  I ended up in the hospital for 7 days with complicated diverticulitis. That was only the beginning. While in the hospital they found that I had emphysema and being too young for that, they tested me for Alpha1 Antitripsyn Deficiency.

Well, as it turns out, I am a reluctant member of this very exclusive club. I am one of only 100,000 or so in the US to be diagnosed with this disease (There are more out there who are unaware they have this condition). So, now I am embarking on a whole new journey in my life. The disease is so rare that every single one of my doctors had told me they....well....didn't know what to tell me about the disease. They couldn't even tell me if this was a death sentence or not.

It was the Alpha1 Foundation that helped me find my specialist and get set up on the weekly infusions that will (hopefully) keep me around for a long time. I am very grateful for the Foundation and I want to do anything and everything I can to help them on their mission to find a cure and help people, just like me, who are fortunate enough to find them, when they need them the most.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!