Mykhaylo “Mikhail” Yatskov

What did it feel like finding out your child has Multiple Sulfates Deficiency (MSD)?

We felt a lot of pain. It was unbearable to receive the news from the doctors that your child will pass away in five years. There is no medicine or cure for this disease. Life was divided into time before receiving the diagnosis and after receiving the diagnosis. (Life was divided into before and after.) 

How has MSD affected your children?

Mikhail was born a perfectly healthy boy. At one year and one month old, he began walking on his own, but his walking was not confident. He constantly fell, from one side to the other, but the doctors didn’t pay any attention to that at the beginning. At that age, he understood different animal sounds. At a year and six months old, he became interested in the alphabet. He learned almost all of them, and spoke a few words. After two years old, he attended preschool. At this time, he frequently became sick with viral infections. Often, his temperature would rise to 40 degrees C (104 degrees F), accompanied by pain in his ears. Because of this, we needed to take him out of preschool. At this time, Misha didn’t learn anything new. Mikhail had stopped developing. He became uninterested in the environment around him. He got tired very quickly. By the age of three, Mikhail stopped walking, and lost the ability to talk or make sounds. At three and a half, he was unable to sit or use his arms.

How has MSD affected your entire family?

Our child requires around-the-clock care. Because of the disease, we need to be isolated from the rest of the world. Only the help and support of our family help us take care of our son. 

What is the hardest part about being an MSD family?

Our son lost the ability to walk, talk, sit, work with his hands and requires constant care. He is dying, and we cannot do anything about it. It is very hard and painful to not be able to do anything to help the most important and precious thing you have in your life. You don’t know what awaits you tomorrow or in the future. 

What are the biggest misconceptions people have about being an MSD parent?

We want to tell parents whose children are affected with MSD that no matter what, you cannot lose faith and hope for a better future.

What is one thing you would tell people about MSD?

MSD is a very serious disease that takes away the lives of our children.

What is one thing you would ask from the world?

Help us find a cure to this scary disease.

Why are you asking for donations to the foundation?

Donations will help us move the drug toward clinical trials. The children will have a chance to live.

Latest News?

Now our son is five years old. He is paralyzed and has difficulty holding his head up. He doesn’t look at people or objects, can’t speak, eats baby food, and practically doesn’t gain any weight. We don’t know what he understands, or doesn’t. He cries often and looks in one direction.