Cure MSD

Happy 9th Birthday to João Lucas! 🎉💙 Today, we are honored to celebrate you, and wish you a future filled with many more precious milestones!

João is a little boy whose bright smile, joyful spirit, and quiet strength have touched so many lives. As his mother, Dri, beautifully shares, "What really matters is that you're here... the sparkle in your eyes when you're happy... every achievement, every challenge overcome, every moment we've shared."

Every birthday is a powerful reminder of what matters most. Although he is nonverbal, João Lucas teaches us what love truly looks like, adds Dri: strength, patience, faith, and unconditional love. And if she could go back in time, she reflects, she would choose him again "a thousand times."

"My greatest wish on this birthday is ... that you continue to have health, comfort, love, and happiness. ...And may I have the privilege of continuing to be by your side, holding your hand, understanding your gaze, and celebrating every moment of your life. Happy 9th birthday, my son. You are the purest, truest, and most beautiful love I have ever known."

With love from all of us at the United MSD Foundation, we share Dri's wish for João Lucas and for every family affected by MSD: a future filled with more milestones, more reasons to celebrate, and more precious time together.

📅 SAVE THE DATE: MSD WORLD DAY — JULY 30 🌎

This MSD World Day, our global community will come together to honor the strength of individuals and families affected by Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency and support the research bringing us closer than ever to potential treatments.

After years of perseverance, collaboration, and scientific progress built on hope, we are now bound for breakthroughs.

💙 Mark your calendar.
💙 Share the date.
💙 Join us July 30 as we unite around the world to propel real progress and build a brighter future for everyone battling MSD.

We’re thrilled to welcome 🧬 Dr. Lars Schlotawa, MD, from the University Medical Centre Goettingen (UMG) to the speaker line-up for our 2026 MSD Virtual Summit!

During the Scientific Day on Sept. 18, Dr. Schlotawa will share research insights exploring drug repurposing strategies and their implications for treating MSD patients. His work reflects the growing global effort to deepen understanding of MSD and move toward more targeted therapeutic strategies for MSD families.

🗓 September 18–19
💻 ZOOM | FREE to attend
Learn more + register 👉 https://curemsd.org/2026-virtual-summit/

This Mother’s Day, we honor and celebrate mothers everywhere for their boundless love, strength, and unwavering dedication that often goes unseen.

We hold deep gratitude for all mothers—especially those navigating the daily challenges of caring for a child with a rare disease, carrying that responsibility with quiet resilience and extraordinary courage.

We also hold close the mothers missing their children today, and all those carrying the ache of missing their moms. For many, this day is filled with both love and grief, remembrance and longing.

Today, and every day, you are seen, honored, and deeply appreciated. 💙