News Details (Posted: November 17, 2008):

MICHAEL KUTSCH BENEFIT/SPAGHETTI DINNER

Contact Information:

Linda Coulter
330-898-1591

Full Description:

McDonald - A local effort has started to help a 40 year old McDonald man and his family get support for insurmountable medical bills and the special equipment that he needs. Mike is a devoted father of two small children (Hunter and Maddison) and husband to Heather Mathews Kutsch. Michael and his family are life long residents and were very active in the community. Mike was stricken with Huntington’s disease at the staggeringly early age of 32. Huntington's disease is a hereditary, degenerative brain disorder for which there is, at present, no effective treatment or cure. HD slowly diminishes the affected individual’s ability to walk, think, talk and reason. Mike has become totally dependent upon others for his care. Huntington's disease profoundly affects the lives of entire families - emotionally, socially and economically. Mike was diagnosed with HD at Cleveland Clinic four years ago. Ohio State University Hospital evaluated him several times for an experimental program to help slow down the progression of the disease but his illness had progressed to far when OSU finally received funding for the treatment. Of course, this has been devastating on the Kutsch family emotionally as they have been watching Mike deteriorate rapidly. However, financially the medical burden seems insurmountable. Heather works full time but does not have benefits. Because of the medical bills for Mike and the medical needs for her children she cannot afford to pay for insurance and support her family as well. When Mike started receiving disability and Medicare the family did not qualify for Medicaid benefits. He requires constant care. To help the family, members of the Girard United Methodist Church as well as several groups in the community are having a Benefit/Spaghetti Dinner and have started an account at all of the Home Savings & Loan Branches to raise funds in supporting the Kutsch family to alleviate some of the medical and financial burden HD has caused them. There will be a Bake sale and Raffle of many unique items such as an autographed copy of Ohio State University Coach Jim Tressel’s Book The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life, a Football signed by Coach Tressel and two sets of Kelly Pavlik autographed boxing gloves. Raffle tickets winners do not need to be present to win. Please join us in letting the public be aware in supporting the Kutsch family as we try to help them ease some of their financial burden. The Benefit is on Nov. 23rd. TIME 1-5. Sincerely, Linda M. Coulter {Mike’s mother-in-law) lincou@embarqmail.com 330-898-1591