By now, you’ve probably already heard of Paul and Sue Rosenau of Waseca, MN. They are the lucky couple who won a $180.1 million Powerball jackpot over the weekend, and they’ve been interviewed pretty much all week. I think they’re generating more interest than other lottery winners because they seem like a genuinely nice couple, plus they’re intent on raising awareness of Krabbe disease.
Krabbe disease is a genetic disorder that only occurs in 1 out of every 100,000 births. It attacks the nervous system, resulting in a loss of mental and motor skills. Krabbe disease is mostly fatal when it occurs in babies younger than 2 years old, but some patients, notably Hunter Kelly, son of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, end up living longer. (Hunter Kelly succumbed to complications from Krabbe disease in August, 2005 at the age of 8.)
Anyway, the Rosenaus lost their two-year-old granddaughter Makayla to Krabbe disease, and are anxiously awaiting screening results from new granddaughter Allison.
Let’s hope the second baby is ok, and that the Rosenaus use at least part of their $60 million lump sum payment to help fund research for Krabbe disease.
(AP Photo)