Months of doctor’s appointments, therapy sessions, and tests led to a devastating diagnosis: spastic paraplegia type 50 (SPG50), an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease affecting fewer than 100 people worldwide.
Doctors told the Pirovolakis family there was no cure and that Michael would become paralyzed and likely quadriplegic in his teenage years, eventually losing the ability to speak and walk.
Faced with this bleak prognosis, Terry made a life-altering decision: If no treatment existed, he would find a cure for his son’s disease himself.
Terry recalls the moment the doctors delivered the news: “They said he’d never walk or talk, and would need support for the rest of his life.
To bring the therapy to life, Terry founded Elpida Therapeutics — named after the Greek word for "hope."
Terry’s determination was supported by a passionate team of doctors and scientists who believed in the cause.
Michael’s journey is far from over, but with the love and resilience of his family, his future is full of possibility. »
