Michelle and Jake

About a week after her son Jake was born, doctors told Michelle that he had long-chain L-3 hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) deficiency, a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder. The doctors explained that he would survive a few years at most, if they were lucky. Fortunately, with the help of a metabolic specialist and a dietitian, Michelle learned that through diet, frequent feeding, and a close watch, she and Jake could manage the disease together and move forward. Jake is now a teenager who loves to swim and draw. Each day, he proves that with proper care, people with LCHAD can live a full life.