25 January 1998

Dear HMG List Membership,

I have a young mother in Durban, South Africa, with a four year old son who is severely ill with a mitochondrial disorder; tentative diagnosis is either MELAS or Leigh's. She has been unable to locate a physician in her area that is familiar with mitochondrial disorders, and this is negatively affecting the treatment of her son's condition. It is my concern that if a physician with adequate knowledge and experience with mitochondrial disorders is not found for this family, that the resulting course will be the accelerated death of this child. Please, any information on possible contacts in the geographical area of South Africa will be most graciously appreciated. I may be contacted at the following address/phone number, or at the email address in my signature below.

Sincerely yours, Mike Jackson