LAWRENCE, Mass.–With May 6 marking the second year of observance of Moyamoya Disease Awareness Day in Massachusetts, Merrimack Valley Credit Union (MVCU), a supporter of Credit Unions Kids at Heart, said it has launched efforts to raise awareness throughout the Commonwealth.
The credit union said research on Moyamoya, conducted at Boston Children's Hospital, is one of the fundraising initiatives of Credit Unions Kids at Heart and MVCU is partnering with them to draw attention to this dangerous condition with handouts, in-branch displays and giveaways at each of its 19 retail branches.
Moyamoya disease is a rare and progressive neurological disease in which the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain narrow, greatly reducing blood flow. "Moyamoya" means puff of smoke in Japanese and describes how the blood vessels look when seen on an X-ray or other medical imaging. If left untreated, it can lead to severe strokes that can cause long-term effects including cognitive and sensory impairments, communication disorders, visual disturbances, behavioral problems, and may even be fatal. People of any age can develop the disease, but diagnosis is more common in school-aged children, the credit union said.
Click here to read MVCU’s feature story on Credit Union Kids at Heart’s Moyamoya advocacy and a local family’s experience with this disease.