Lights of Love a tribute to donations for New Albany girl

Thursday, December 13, 2007


Enterprise Staff Writer

By Tim Norman/Enterprise

Tom Mouat gets help from neighbors Sydney Yavitch, 6, and Zach Yavitch, 4, as they test lights that will be put outside the Mouat home on Wooded Nook Drive. For every dollar raised for the Propionic Acidemia Foundation, one Christmas light is hung.

Gwen Mouat, now 22 months old, was diagnosed with propionic acidemia when she was 5 days old.


They aren't the rambunctious neighbors trying to outdo everyone on the street with a Griswold-esque holiday display.

Each light adorning the Mouat family's home on Wooded Nook Drive in New Albany represents a dollar donated for research of a genetic disease that greatly affects their household.

"(For Lights of Love) we will put a light on our house for every $1 donated to the (Propionic Acidemia) Foundation (PAF) during the month of December in Gwen's name," Jennifer Mouat said.

Tom and Jennifer Mouat's 22-month-old daughter, Gwen, was diagnosed with propionic acidemia (PA) before she was a week old.

Mouat said after questioning odd behavior from the then-2-day-old infant, the couple rushed her to Children's Hospital, which ended up saving her life.

According to the PAF, people with the disease "cannot break down parts of protein and some types of fat due to a nonfunctioning enzyme called PCC. This inability causes a buildup of dangerous acids and toxins, which can cause damage to the person's organs. PA can also damage the brain, heart and liver, cause seizures and delays to normal development."

Lights of Love is in its second year. Jennifer Mouat, a six-year New Albany resident who loves the holidays, said she thought of the idea when debating whether to put up lights while her daughter was sick.

"It was just a brainstorm I had one day," Mouat said. "I was trying to think if we should put lights up and if we had time. Gwen was sick then. I was thinking if it was a priority. Then it just popped in my mind. People were asking me, 'How can I help?' and I thought this was a way to put lights up. I said, 'Give me a dollar and I'll put a light up.'"

Money raised through Lights of Love goes to the PAF, which is dedicated to finding better treatments and a cure for the disease.

With a lifetime of PA facing Gwen, better treatments and a cure are paramount for the Mouats.

"It's a lifelong genetic disease. It causes damage to all of the central nervous system," Mouat said. "She will always fight an uphill battle."

In fact, Gwen recently went on her first vacation; her parents took her and her 4-year-old brother, Robbie, to Walt Disney World in Florida. The family was accompanied by a nurse, and Gwen had to be taken to Children's Hospital when the family returned home.

Donations can be made for Lights of Love through the PAF at pafoundation.com or through the Mouats' Web site: gwenforacure.com.

Jennifer Mouat said money or a check can also be dropped off or mailed to the family's home at 4435 Wooded Nook Drive, New Albany, 43054.

<b>jnoblit@thisweeknews.com



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