Support Coats' Disease Research Today!

When he was 11 years old, Jack McGovern woke up one day to discover that he had lost the central field of vision in his left eye. His parents immediately sought a diagnosis, met with specialists, and learned that Jack was suffering from Coats' Disease. Coats’ Disease is a rare eye disorder that causes the blood vessels behind the retina to leak fluids. This impacts the retina, leading to loss of vision and, in some cases, the removal of the eye. Treatments typically involve numerous laser surgeries for even the youngest of patients. It has been determined that nearly seventy five percent of Coats' patients are males and more than two thirds of patients are children; some are diagnosed as young as four months old.

For Jack, it took four laser surgeries until his vision was stabilized. Although Jack’s sight was not restored, Coats’ Disease hasn’t held him back. In fact, Jack has gone on to lead an active life as a student/athlete, playing football and lacrosse in high school and playing Division 1 lacrosse for four years during his college career.

There is no cure yet. Jack and all other Coats' patients will need to monitor and treat the disease for the rest of their lives.

After his diagnosis, Jack's parents vowed that they would do everything in their power to find a cure for Coats' Disease. The Jack McGovern Coats' Disease Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, was formed in 2006 to achieve their vision. Our mission is to raise funds in support of ongoing research and offer all Coats’ Disease patients hope and improvements as they wage a lifelong battle against Coats' Disease and blindness.

The Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation has made a significant impact on Coats’ Disease research. The support offered to physicians and researchers through funds provided by the Foundation is critical to move us closer to a cure and better treatment options. Since 2006, we have:

• Launched a Patient Registry for researchers to access patient data;
• Created a Doctor Directory for patients and families to locate Ophthalmologists who have experience in treating Coats' Disease;
• Established the first-of-its-kind Jack McGovern Coats' Disease Foundation National Tissue Biobank in partnership with the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine to make tissue available to researchers around the world;
• Partnered with Genentech to discover genetic markers for the disease; and
• Established research travel grants for new researchers to attend conferences and learn about cutting-edge research on treatments.

Today, Jack continues to play lacrosse whenever he can, including in the High Sierra Lacrosse Tournament in Lake Tahoe. He now serves on the Foundation’s Board and makes it a point to speak with other Coats' patients and their families. His message is simple but impactful, “You can still do anything you dream of doing even if you have lost your vision or your eye. Never give up! Pursue your dreams!”

Please join Jack in the fight to cure Coats’ Disease by donating today! For more information about Coats' Disease and the Foundation, visit www.coatsdiseasefoundation.org

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!