I'd like to take a moment to introduce you to Michael Carl Papaioannou. Michael is a bright, cheerful three-year-old boy who has recently been diagnosed with Lesch-Nyhan Disease (LND). You may never have heard of LND, most people have not as Michael is the 4th living case in Canada and the youngest worldwide. This rare neuro muscular disease affects 1 in 20 million people worldwide. There is no known cure for LND. LND is an insidious disease, affecting fine and gross motor skills resulting in poor motor control and difficulty with sitting and walking. LND is caused by a genetic mutation of the X chromosome, and is chiefly known by its most devastating symptom, a compulsion to self injure. There is no way of telling at this young age, how severe or mild Michael's symptoms may become.

Dr. Nyhan, who along with Dr. Lesch originally discovered the disease in 1964, manages a research facility in San Diego and the Papaioannous will be taking Michael to San Diego as often as possible for research and treatment.