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Modes Family & Friends Fun(d)raiser
 The Modes Family and Friends Nephcure Fundraiser held on May 16, 2007 at St. Mary Cultural Center in Livonia, Michigan was a huge success.
Guests enjoyed live music, food and beverages, and door prize raffles. Raffle gifts included a color television, DVD player, Detroit Tiger baseball tickets, autographed baseballs and much more.
Speakers at the event included Dr. Tej Mattoo, M.D.,DCH,FRCP(UK) Chief of Pediatric Nephrology at Children’s Hospital of Michigan; Michael Duggan, CEO of the Detroit Medical Center; Henry Brehm, Executive Director of Nephcure Foundation; and Robert Ficano, Wayne County Executive.
An educational video spotlighting FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome and the effects of these diseases on patients and their families was shown.
 In December 2005, Molly Modes, the youngest four siblings, was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome. Molly started treatment at Children’s Hospital of Michigan the week before Christmas 2005. 90% of all Nephrotic Syndromes prove to be Minimal Change Disease, which typically disappears after steroid treatment.
A kidney biobsy revealed Molly's condition known as Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis or FSGS. Molly was admitted into a National Institute of Health study comparing FSGS treatments. She was subsequently classified as treatment resistant. She was then put on another drug to suppress her immune system and treat the FSGS symptoms, but failed that drug as well.
 Molly is currently being treated with a new protocol being studied by the NIH. This past winter she underwent plasmapheresis three days a week at the Detroit Medical Center. This is a procedure similar to dialysis which cleans the blood. She is also taking a third immunosuppressive medication. "We are hopeful that this treatment regime will prove successful in inducing remission for Molly," says her mother, Meg.
The NephCure Foundation sincerely thanks everyone involved in the success of this evening, especially the Modes Family! |
