Family’s struggle with Batten disease mirrors the journey of others fighting rare diseases – The Denver Post

Family’s struggle with Batten disease mirrors the journey of others fighting rare diseases – The Denver Post

Family’s struggle with Batten 

disease mirrors the journey 

of others fighting rare diseases

Families dealing with orphan diseases can find 

themselves raising funds for medical research

Matthew Jonas, Longmont Times-Call

Julia Vitarello, left, plays with daughter Mila Makovec, 6, and her 

brother Azlan Makovec, 2, at their home in Boulder County on Friday. 

Mila Makovec has been diagnosed with Batten disease, a rare terminal 

neurodegenerative disorder with no known cure.

By CINDY SUTTER | Special to The Denver Post

PUBLISHED: January 20, 2017 at 5:42 pm | UPDATED: January 24, 2017 at 12:19 pm