Michael Malecha is a 16-year-old boy who enjoys working on his family farm and mechanical work. Not atypical by any means, but Michael is legally blind.

Michael's mom, Jennifer, joined him on our KDHL AM Minnesota program to educate all of us about the very rare Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy, or LHON disease.

He is only the third person in the world to be diagnosed with this form of LHON.

I hope you will watch the program and believe you will be as inspired as I was with this young man.

He still does the farm chores, and the teachers at Northfield High School have been terrific, his mom says, with helping him adapt with various technological assistance.

LHON is a mitochondrial disorder that effects the optic nerve fibers causing the optic nerve to swell and the fibers inside the optic nerve to die.

LHON is a rapid, painless, central vision loss. About 1,400 Americans each year are diagnosed with LHON.

Michael's form of the disease is different in that he sees many black spots and still has some central vision.

An antioxidant called Idebenone was suggested for Michael to take. It is not approved by the FDA and is not covered by insurance. The Malechas are hosting a fundraiser for LHON research called "Dinner in the Dark." You can enjoy a gourmet dinner while blindfolded to understand the challenges faced by visually impaired people while raising money for LHON research.

The event at the Northfield Ballroom will be Saturday, May 7, with a social hour at 6PM. Dinner is at 7PM, and there will be live and silent auctions. Cost is $50 per person.

For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Jennifer Malecha at (612) 282-3461.

The KDHL AM Minnesota program can be viewed at www.youtube.com/user/KDHLRadio

Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondrial DNA is the small circular chromosome found inside mitochondria. National Library of Medicine
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