A Parent's Fight: Daughter Perseveres Through Rare Disease

BROOKFIELD, WI -- Life was moving forward for Colleen and Troy Jakubowski and their family. The New Berlin parents were happy that their daughter, Morgan, was beginning her first year of college. Very soon after sending her off to college, they noticed that Morgan was having trouble walking and had been falling frequently.

“We became very concerned and took her to several physicians in the Milwaukee area,” Colleen Jakubowski said. “They were not able to determine why this was happening."

The Jakubowski family traveled to the Mayo Clinic to find the answers to what might be happening to their daughter Morgan. It was there that Morgan was diagnosed with a POLG gene mutation, one of the many forms of mitochondrial disease. A month after her diagnosis she suffered from seizures so severe they caused a brain injury.

Those who have a POLG mutation suffer from recurrent seizures, muscle weakness and problems with coordination and balance. Symptoms of a POLG mutation can occur at any point in life. Research shows that nearly two percent of the general population are carriers for this mutation which means that more than 670,000 people may have a mitochondrial disease as a result

On Saturday, Sep. 29, 2018, the Jakubowski family will join with other patients and families for the Energy for Life Walkathon. The walkathon will take place at Fox Brook Park Pavilion, 2925 N. Barker Road, Brookfield, WI, 53045.

Registration for the Energy for Life Walkathon begins at 9:00 am. The Walkathon steps off at 10:30 a.m. with entertainment to follow. The Energy for Life Walkathon is designed to recognize, remember and honor those who battle mitochondrial disease

Morgan, now 24, continues to work on her rehabilitation. Her mitochondrial disease is currently stable and her seizures are controlled with several medicines, her family says.

“Morgan hopes one day to walk again independently, get a job and become self-sufficient,” father Troy Jakubowski said. “For all of the patients and families, we want to see more awareness about mitochondrial disease within the medical community."

Visit www.energyforlifewalk.org/southernwisconsin for more information about the upcoming walkathon.

Submitted Photo, Published With Permission