We're Making History: Join Us for the First-Ever VLCAD Deficiency Awareness Day
Join us on July 17 for the first-ever VLCAD Deficiency Awareness Day. Learn how you can share your spark, support groundbreaking VLCAD research, and help raise awareness for families living with this rare disease.
Faces of VLCAD: Stories of Strength, Resilience, and Hope
Every VLCAD journey is unique.
On July 17, VLCAD Deficiency Awareness Day, we invite you to learn more, share these stories, and help support awareness, advocacy, and research that can improve the lives of families living with VLCAD and other long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders.
The Invisible Mental Load of Raising a Child With a Rare Disease
During Mental Health Awareness Month, Maddie’s mom shares the emotional reality of raising a child with VLCAD deficiency from medical trauma and caregiver burnout to the invisible mental load rare disease parents carry every day. This personal story explores fear, grief, resilience, and the importance of finding support and community through the hardest moments.
Maddie’s Spark Foundation Featured in UPMC Children’s Philanthropy Update
Maddie’s Spark Foundation and Maddie’s VLCAD journey were featured in the Spring 2026 UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation philanthropy update highlighting rare disease research, newborn screening advancements, and hope for families affected by VLCAD deficiency.