Why the Banana, Carrot, and Copper?
Why the banana on a billboard?
It takes you by surprise when you see it! Wilson Disease takes many patients by surprise. Many patients live normal happy lives until suddenly, and with no warning they are stricken. They might be critically ill and on death’s door. They looked normal and healthy on the outside but on the inside something was very wrong. It was undetected their entire lives. Wilson Disease patients absorb minerals from their diet like everyone else, but Copper is the problem. Our patients have a mutation that prevents the proper removal of excess copper. The result is terminal if not treated. Patients present the disease in many ways. At this stage in the disease some patients die, some need liver transplants, and the lucky ones being treated by experienced Wilson Disease practitioners live and come back to live normal lives with a protocol, diet and medications. The patients’ siblings must be tested for the disease because it is genetic. At this time we don’t know what will happen to each patient.
We also ask you to donate now to the first research project of its kind in the world. We have no government funding. Your donation goes entirely to the research project but your vote using the banana, carrot or copper buttons will determine the favorite billboard. This donation link is for the banana billboard.
Why the carrot on a billboard?
We are trying to create awareness of this disease that most people never heard of and sometimes physicians too. We admit that the carrot does not have a genetic mutation but it does make our point. The carrot’s shape was affected by the soil conditions and minerals it absorbed while growing. Like the carrot, Wilson Disease patients absorb minerals from their diet, but Copper becomes a life threatening problem. Our patients have a mutation that prevents the proper removal of excess copper. The result is terminal if not treated. Our patients present the disease in many ways. Some patients end up with twisted limbs and lose control of them. Some patients’ limbs twist as the drugs used to save their lives by removing the excess copper affects their muscles.
We also ask you to donate now to the first research project of its kind in the world. We have no government funding. Your donation goes entirely to the research project but your vote using the banana, carrot or copper buttons will determine the favorite billboard. This donation link is for the carrot billboard.
Why the copper on our billboard?
Good point! We are trying to create awareness of Wilson Disease. Wilson Disease patients absorb minerals from their diet like everyone else. Copper becomes life threatening. Most people do not realize that copper is in our drinking water, fruits and vegetables and just about anything we eat in tiny amounts. Our patients have a mutation that prevents the proper removal of the excess copper that accumulates over time. The result is terminal if not treated. Copper can accumulate in the brain and liver, muscles and eyes and frankly it can appear anywhere in the entire body. We think that is why our patients present the disease in many ways and are so difficult to diagnose. Research is being done that is discovering what other organs copper effects in Wilson disease patients. The disease is like a new frontier. Some may have liver failure, others may have neurological affects but there are many other conditions depending on where the excess copper accumulated. Our current research project was designed to help with the better diagnosis, better treatments and lead to a cure. Even though this disease was identified about 60 years ago, very little progress has been made.
We also ask you to donate now to the first research project of its kind in the world. We have no government funding. Your donation goes entirely to the research project but your vote using the banana, carrot or copper buttons will determine the favorite billboard. This donation link is for the copper head billboard.
We invite you to look at information on our website. We are trying to create awareness of this disease that most people never heard of and sometimes physicians too. There are many patient stories in their own words in a section called Wilson’s Warriors.
We have three billboard ads running that were kindly donated by Interstate Outdoor Advertising, LP. We are using the total donations for each one to determine which one was liked best.
