As 2017 comes to an end, we want to wish you all a safe and healthy 2018!  Thank you to all of our RUN families for continuing to be a part of our lives. As we reflect on this past year, we are deeply saddened from the constant texts, emails and phone calls about emergency room visits, surgeries and hospitalizations in 2017. We are disappointed by the lack of improvement in so many of our children, our teens and our young adults.  We are continuously inspired by our caregivers as well as our rare and undiagnosed patients. The strength and courage you all have motivates us to continue on this journey with RUN. When we look back at meeting many of the families in 2014 and 2015, we would have sworn that life would have improved and more miracles would have happened by now. Instead, the majority of you are still in constant battle against your rare or undiagnosed disease. We know so many of you that are still suffering every single day and ours hearts hurt for you. If we could just ease the pain and suffering, then living in the world of the unknown would be a little less devastating. We know so many of you just do not know when or if you will ever find a treatment and a cure. And for those of you still on the diagnostic odyssey like our family, we pray for you to find that one doctor that can give you a diagnosis. It is all so unfair but we must stay optimistic. We cannot let our fears stop us from searching for more answers. We cannot let our tears weigh us down. Together, we can continue on in 2018.  No matter where you and your family are on your journey, we will pray for you to have a better year.

We hope in 2018 that our RUN network continues to grow and for all of us to have an uplifting year filled with love, laughter and less pain.

Please know that our family is thinking of you often.

We send our love, prayers and hugs from our family to yours.

Much love,

Gina, Justin, Ava, Oskar and Lucy

For More on the Szajnuk’s Journey