In Honor of Their Daughter's Birthday, These Parents Are Working to Cure Sanfilippo Syndrome

After being diagnosed with the disease that's been called "childhood Alzheimer's," Eliza O'Neill's parents are working toward a cure.

By Maressa Brown

A little girl named Eliza O'Neill has been making headlines since 2014 when she was diagnosed with Sanfilippo Syndrome. The disease affects the brain in a way that it's been likened to “childhood Alzheimer’s," heart-wrenchingly robbing a child of their memory and language. That year, Eliza's family created a GoFundMe for the non-profit they created, Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, to cure the disease and support children like Eliza. The effort resulted in raising an amazing $2 million that made it possible for Eliza and six other children to participate in a clinical trial.

Now, in honor of Eliza's 8th birthday tomorrow, Thursday, November 16, her family has set a new goal. The O'Neills aim to raise $100k for urgent research that will lead to clinical trials for more children, including enzyme replacement, gene therapy, and mesenchymal stem cell to repair the brain.

This video offers a heartwarming glimpse at Eliza's backstory, as told by her parents and brother.

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O'Neills' story will surely spread awareness and support research for Sanfillippo Syndrome, hopefully leading to amazing medical support for Eliza and other children battling the disease.

By Maressa Brown