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Monica Birkhahn's Fundraiser
Help Us Make the 2026 DESSH Clinic Possible
Rare shouldn’t mean facing the unknown alone. Your support can help change that.
I’m raising funds to support the 2026 DESSH Clinic & Family Conference, something that means so much to our family and to Matías, and to so many others navigating this rare condition.
DeSanto-Shinawi Syndrome is so uncommon that families are often left without clear answers, guidance, or access to doctors who truly understand it. We’ve lived that reality, spending countless hours researching, advocating, and trying to piece together information that simply isn’t readily available.
This clinic is one of the only places where patients are seen by specialists who understand DESSH, often for the very first time. It’s also where families finally connect with others on the same journey, breaking the isolation that comes with a rare diagnosis.
But the impact goes even further.
The clinic supports a natural history study, where patients contribute critical data that helps researchers better understand DESSH and move closer to future treatments. At the same time, doctors gain real, hands-on experience by seeing multiple patients together—helping improve care for this entire community.
This kind of progress depends on support from people like you.
If you’re able, please consider donating. Any amount helps move this work forward. And if you can’t donate, sharing this campaign can make a meaningful difference.
Your support is not just helping one family.
it’s helping bring answers, connection, and hope to an entire community 💛