40 years awareness for “Rare disease”
– Anna and Giuseppe Baschirotto
My visit to B.I.R.D. in September 2017
by Verena Gutmann (IPWSO Board Member - Austria)
Verena |
Some weeks ago I visited B.I.R.D. Institute (Baschirotto Institute of
rare disease) in Longare di Costozza, a sleepy little village near Vicenza. The agreement between B.I.R.D. and IPWSO needed to be confirmed
again and signed.
The B.I.R.D. Institute makes it possible to perform the IPWSO
diagnostic molecular tests which allow confirming or excluding the
Prader-Willi Syndrome in countries which cannot afford the special technical
equipment to provide the diagnosis on site.
This is the only life-sustaining option for many affected families to
care appropriately for a person with PWS.
It is very impressive to see how much mail the institute receives from
all over the world. Even test samples on simple coffee filter paper arrive when
laboratory filter paper is not available.
Last time I visited B.I.R.D. was in 2002, when Giorgio Fornasier, father
of the now 40 years old Daniele with PWS and the former president of
IPWSO, organized the IPWSO members meeting of 25 nations at B.I.R.D. That
was a truly emotional meeting!
Today, 15 years later, I was really impressed by the Baschirottos. Their
life´s work is characterized by their never ending support and their confident
empathy. Mauro, their son, died at age 16 because of the now known Apeced
autoimmune syndrome. It was then that they decided to support research and
therapy for rare diseases. Today, a very dedicated team of molecular
biologists, human geneticist and MD´s make it possible to diagnose rare
diseases like Prader-Willi Syndrome, Apeced Syndrome, Lesch Nyhan, Krabbe
Disease and Metachromatic Leucodystrophy. Outpatient medical care and rehabilitation programs are also
offered on this site. In former times the property was the summer residence of Venetian
aristocrats. Later on nuns used it as an orphanage, before finally the
Baschirottos became the owners.
Giuseppe and Anna Baschirotto |
BIRD |
It is of great importance that affected families can meet and share in
this special environment. They can experience here that support is offered and
that they are not alone in this situation. Because of the close contact with Giorgio Fornasier, the Prader-Willi
Syndrome found particular attention at B.I.R.D.
PWS rehab camps are offered here twice a year. During these camps, PWS
individuals and their families benefit from medical care and also learn more
about PWS management.
Beside the DNA diagnosis, PWS genetic research is conducted here.
Currently test samples of four PWS patients are kept here under special
conditions (temperatures of -80° Celsius) because the financial support of the
Canadian Foundation of Prader-Willi Research for the project
"Insulin driven-translational capacity is impaired in fibroplasts of Prader-Willi Syndrom" ended. A new
sponsor has to be found...
It was such an impressive experience for me to meet a couple like Anna
and Giuseppe. Their charisma, their commitment and their humor are priceless, and
their encouragement to keep supporting PWS families worldwide is much
appreciated.
(IPWSO expresses its huge gratitude to the Baschirotto's and their team of staff who make many PWS diagnoses for families around the world. All PWS diagnoses are subsidised by IPWSO and free where this is otherwise unavailable.)
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