Kate and Gerard Norton

In Episode 3, Emily sits down with Kate and Gerard Norton, founders of Madeline’s Mission, for a heartfelt conversation about their daughter Madeline, the rare childhood disease PKAN, and the mission that now drives their family forward. Affecting roughly 300 children in the U.S., PKAN is little known, but for the Nortons, it is deeply personal.

This episode explores how they are raising awareness, building community, and leading fundraisers to support the research and long-term effort needed toward a cure for Madeline and other children affected by PKAN. Emily also dives into the GoFundMe and other ways people can help, while making space for an honest conversation about faith, persistence, and what it means to keep showing up in the face of something so hard.

It is real, moving, and full of purpose.

Saverio's Authentic Pizza Napoletana

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www.saveriospizza.com

Podcast produced by RJ Media www.rjmediastudios.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

Hi, everybody, and thank you for joining me at a seat at the table with Severio and Emily. But tonight you just got me. Severio is home resting his Achilles tendon, and I have a very special family here with me today. I have Kate and Gerard Norton, and they are the founders of Madeline's Mission. And we're going to dive deep into this conversation. It's a heart-wrenching story. But you know what? We all have our faith and we all have hope, and we know that together we can make a very big difference for little Madeline. And I'm really looking forward to sharing the story of how our hands crossed and what brought us around the table today. So thanks for joining us, and I'm so happy to have you guys. Thank you for having us. And I got a little sneak peek of Madeline today. She's beautiful, what a beautiful baby. So thank you so much for coming. And I'm really looking forward to sharing your story and helping you to reach the goal that we're praying for this year. So um, so just explain to me a little bit about what the foundation of Madeline's mission is and what your goal is for this year.

SPEAKER_04 1:02

So uh we started Madeline's Mission, uh, which is a social media movement last July. Uh Madeline was diagnosed with a terminal disease called PCAN. Um so she has a uh life expectancy of about 10 years. Um we got that diagnosis last June. We took the month off and then we dove deep into fundraising and uh social media awareness.

SPEAKER_03 1:24

Um And just you know what your goal is for this year. I know that the goal is a big one, but we're gonna help you get there.

SPEAKER_04 1:31

Yes, so the goal is $1.3 million to get us to gene therapy trials. Um, there's no cure as of now. Um, but if we fundraise $1.3 million um between all the families in 2026, uh, we're hoping for human the door.

SPEAKER_03 1:46

That'll open the door to fund the research that can bring the cure to these babies that are really in need of this. And you know what? I do believe that we'll get there. Yeah, I do believe our community is very powerful, and when people pull together, they get stuff done. Definitely and uh that's why we're here. And um, you know, just a quick to share how we met. It was kind of like a fluke kind of thing because I know you guys have been in for pizza, but I didn't really know your story, nor did I really know that you were from here. Never mind being from here, you're like one block away from where I live. So that was like the chakra of all chakras because um last September Severia and I were going on a pilgrimage to Padre Pio. So through the shop, I collected prayer cards. Um, and I came across Madeline's mission on Instagram one day prior to the trip. So I wrote a little prayer card and put it in my prayer bag. Not knowing you guys, not knowing Madeline, not knowing much of anything, but I was just so moved by what I was reading that I wrote a prayer card and put it in my bag. So I got on that plane with about 150 prayer cards from everybody that needed help and prayers answered. So when we got to Italy and I met the group, there were 91 of us on two tour buses. And of course, I was the Red Bus, so I named it the Red Wine bus because why not? Um, so my 45 friends, we became like friends immediately. We just gelled and I said, I have a big favor to ask of all 45 of us on this bus. We all have to pray for Madeline on this trip. So every church we went to, all 45 of us on that bus prayed for Madeline in all the churches all over Italy. And it was amazing just to have the power of prayer, is just it's very powerful. And we were in tears praying, all of us. And then I found out I must have messaged you while I was there. It was the baby's baptism day. Yes. And I'm like, I have something for you. And I had my staff bring you guys over Padre Pio's, and that's when I found out how close you live, literally around the corner from us. It's like one block over. Literally crazy. Yep. So you got your Padre Pios for the baby's baptism, and then I came to see you when I got home with a Padre Pia little cushion for her crib, which is how we sort of introduced ourselves. And um, I became very deeply attached, um, as I do with certain people. You know, I just feel like that connection with people, and I feel God brings you guys to me for a reason. So if this is what I need to do, then this is what we're gonna do. We're gonna get it done. So um, you know, through the pork store and through Severio's Pizza, we do a lot of fundraising. Um, and we are launching uh a raffle. So we're raffling off a kids outside, a $500 gift card to the pork store and pizza uh for a $25 raffle. So I gave you the first 20 tickets for sold, you got $500 to put what's your foundation. And you hit a milestone $100,000 on a GoFundMe. Yes. So what's the GoFundMe? So I could have people donate.

SPEAKER_04 4:39

So the GoFundMe is it's Madeline Madeline's Mission, Cure PCAN. They can just search Madeline's Mission, Madeline's Mission. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:47

Follow us on Instagram, we're at Madeline's Mission. We have all our links for news articles for our actual organization, the Love and Logic Foundation, okay, who is a non-for-profit that works for PCAN research. Okay. Um, all those links would be on our Instagram, TikTok. We do have a Facebook, we're not that active on it. Uh we also have somebody that's uh stealing for you. No, they're stealing our stuff. They're scammers.

SPEAKER_03 5:12

Oh no.

SPEAKER_01 5:14

If you reported them like several times, and it just keeps they won't they won't.

SPEAKER_04 5:18

But if you look up um at Madeline's dot mission on Instagram, okay, that's our main platform. That's where we share everything. Okay. Um our GoFundMe is linked, and then we have a link tree, and that has everything on it. So you can read about news articles. Um, we have videos, uh, yeah, fundraisers that are coming up, events, um, all of our past events that you can see. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 5:38

Um I know you're very actively pursuing in the Senate. You went to the Senate and spoke about Madeline's situation, other children that are affected. Now, how I know it's a very rare disorder. So, how many children are affected by this? Do we have like a number?

SPEAKER_04 5:52

So, we have what we know about is about 300 children in the US. Wow. We're the only family on Long Island that we know of that has um that has a child with pecan. Um, there's some children in Tennessee, Montana. That's where the Loving Lower Foundation is got based out of is Montana. Okay. Um, Ohio, uh Virginia. Um, but we're the only one in New York that we know right now.

SPEAKER_03 6:17

300 children could benefit if this money is raised and the cure could be brought to the FDA level for approval and then brought out to the hospitals to get these kids, you know, better. Yeah. So that's the goal. So I feel like that's something reasonable. Come on, everybody. Everybody donates. I know I donate to St. Jude every month. Yes. So maybe we'll make a switch. Yeah. We won't donate to St. Jude. Sorry, St. Jude. But you know what? Maybe we'll, you know, if everybody just for this year gives a little bit, digs into their pockets a little bit more, and we can make something really special happen for all these 300 babies. That would be fantastic. So now you guys are still working and trying to maintain some kind of normalcy, you know, through all this.

SPEAKER_04 6:56

We both still work full-time. Um, so we do that. We obviously take care of Madeline, so we switch our days.

SPEAKER_01 7:03

Um we don't really see each other, which is probably good for a marriage sometimes. Well, uh we offset, we offset our schedule. So, like she actually gave up her full-time job at Stonebook Hospital to be a little bit closer to home. Um and I still work full-time as a police officer. Right. Um, but now that she's per diem at her hospital she currently works at, she can kind of make her schedule. So I have my schedule for the year. So she basically will make her schedule. So she's with Madeline on the days that I'm working. And then that's good. So we don't see each other really. This is a rarity that we're together. Appreciate the night's dinner.

SPEAKER_03 7:38

This is great. Yeah, you're welcome. Yes, I'm sure the grandparents are helping, and yeah, the best support.

SPEAKER_04 7:44

The best support system. If we have so that's why Madeline isn't with us now, she's with my mom. Um, she'll be going everywhere in this store.

SPEAKER_00 7:51

Hold on everything.

SPEAKER_04 7:54

She didn't want my grandchildren, it's all dead. She's a crazy little one, but um, we have the best support system that will need that.

SPEAKER_03 8:00

You guys need that, and you know what? And and uh just if I could give you a little bit of advice, do find time for yourselves. It's important to have that connection as a husband and wife, you know.

SPEAKER_01 8:10

We just uh we just discovered Disney, so that's gonna be a new one hobby, I think. You know, just give it away.

SPEAKER_04 8:14

Gatelin had the best time, amazing. Absolutely, like she is not an affectionate, cuddly little baby. She likes to just do her own thing. She's very independent, Nikki and Minnie. Oh we love seeing them from across pointing, so it's amazing.

SPEAKER_03 8:32

Can we maybe reach out to Disney and see if they'll donate? I would love that.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

One of our TikTok videos uh shows Madeline's interactions with basically all the characters throughout this. We need to dance dancing, she would dance with Midian Mickey.

SPEAKER_03 8:45

Because that's what we need. We need some big, big parks here.

SPEAKER_01 8:50

Uh our TikTok, Disney Parks commented on us. So uh so you never know.

SPEAKER_03 8:55

Maybe, maybe. I mean, we we know a lot of people in all industries and from every kind of every business we could think of, we know somebody. So let's put our heads together and see who we know. Um, you know, we'll reach out to some people that we know that maybe would be willing to make a nice contribution. I'll give my best.

SPEAKER_01 9:11

And the biggest thing is too, loving Loick is a not-for-profit.

SPEAKER_03 9:14

So, you know, it's L-O-V-I-N-G-L-O-I-C.

SPEAKER_01 9:18

Yes, L O I C and that's the research.org is the website too. And where that's all linked on our social media too, and you'll be able to find that.

SPEAKER_03 9:25

If you wanted to just make a donation, they want them and it's tax right off.

SPEAKER_04 9:28

So at the end of the year, you get that nice tax break for your donations.

SPEAKER_01 9:32

So and one of the important things too is this isn't just for you know one surgery or Madeline's surgery or anything.

SPEAKER_02 9:38

Of course, it's to help so many children.

SPEAKER_01 9:40

This is to cure a childhood disease. So it's not just we're it's not just that we are asking for the 1.3 million to cure our daughter, it's to cure all 300 kids in the United States with PCAN. That would um basically that money is going to the research that um University of Massachusetts and uh Oregon Health and Science Institute has been working on for 20 years. They know the cure, and unfortunately, since it only affects a small amount of children, it's not getting any funding. So, like from the government and stuff like that. So we are self-funding it by fundraising.

SPEAKER_03 10:13

But just so everybody knows what exactly is PKAN? What exactly happens? And how did you realize that this was happening? That's a long story.

SPEAKER_04 10:22

It's not a long story, but um so PCAN is pantothenate kinase associated neurodegeneration, so it's basically like ALS in children.

SPEAKER_03 10:32

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_04 10:32

Um, it's an autosomal recessive. So my husband and I both have a gene, um, a broken gene, and Madeline had a 25% chance of getting that both genes, um, which causes an iron buildup in her brain. Um, so right now she looks like a normal, healthy child. She's amazing, she's so smart. She's, you know, not running everywhere, she, you know, cruises everywhere. Um, she looks totally normal. Um, but as time goes on, iron will build up in her brain, and she'll end up with dystonia, um, which is like an un voluntary uh involuntary movement, like shaking. Um muscle spasm. Muscle spasm, she'll lose the ability to walk, talk, feed herself. Um, she'll end up on a feeding tube, um, and she'll end up in a wheelchair. And then um the life expectancy is about 10.

SPEAKER_01 11:20

So basically, she lacks the enzyme that we all have to break down iron. Okay. So um basically it just, I don't even really know, you know, about a doctor. I'm just a cop. But um it basically.

SPEAKER_03 11:32

But when it affects your child, you learn as much as you physically can.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

Google using it. Because we did the same thing.

SPEAKER_03 11:39

I mean, not on this level. I mean, our daughter is diabetic. So when we got that diagnosis, we were devastated. We learned everything we could possibly learn about insulin and injecting, and you know, I mean, it's nothing compared to what you guys are going through. But at the time it felt devastating to be like, oh my god, when your kid has something.

SPEAKER_01 11:54

The worst part too is like most doctors that you speak to don't even know what this is. Like we had uh we had an article written when this first all came out. We got diagnosed June 12th of this year, so not even a year.

SPEAKER_04 12:05

2025.

SPEAKER_01 12:06

Uh, yeah, 2025. Okay. Uh we haven't even had our one year yet. Right. And um when we first got diagnosed, somebody picked up our article and they reached out to one of the local doctors and like asked them, and they had no idea what she would be talking about.

SPEAKER_03 12:20

You know, like we definitely need to raise awareness. Yes. We definitely need to use this platform, and everybody else, I know that that everyone in the community has been doing so much for you guys, which is so hard for me. It's wonderful. Best week was great, Long Island's great, a lot of good people here. So it's Long Island is best. Yeah, I mean, thank God everyone's pulling together and helping you get through, and you know, God willing, we'll we'll be we'll get there.

SPEAKER_01 12:40

Argo Fund Me has been amazing. We have $101,000, and that's not even like uh a that's just a small portion, right? You know, we all we also have cash donations, we've had people write us checks. Right, that's great. We've had multiple fundraisers um for Madeline that have been very successful, very great.

SPEAKER_03 12:59

That's great.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

So, you know, we're doing everything that we can, you know. And it's like it's become almost like a healthy obsession where we just this is our life now.

SPEAKER_03 13:07

It's like it's your focus because it's your baby.

SPEAKER_01 13:10

Exactly. We have I hate to say we have like this is the year, you know. This is uh they're they're working on it this year. Um they they're literally in the lab right now working on it. Uh as long as they keep getting funding, they'll be able to work on it and then do the human trials next year.

SPEAKER_03 13:24

So now the trial, what does that entail? Like what kind of is it like an infusion of medication or what kind of basically and again, just a cop, not a doctor.

SPEAKER_01 13:33

Um don't call me on it if somebody's watching. But so basically, um, to my understanding is um and from the research that I've done, is her gene is broken and it's just one singular gene. So as far as gene therapy goes, it's one of the easiest gene therapies to do because all they have to do is repair one broken gene versus like some of these more sophisticated, uh rare diseases have multiple broken genes that they have to go in and actually fix. This is just the one broken gene. So they basically go into your brain, they fix however they do it. You know, science is amazing. It's amazing, but they basically go in your brain and they repair that broken gene. And uh, once they repair her broken gene, she'll just be a normal, have a normal life, uh, normal life expectancy. Um you know, everything that she has lost up until that point, like God forbid she loses her ability to walk, eat, you know, they say like swallowing becomes very difficult with an Estonia and stuff like that. Uh, if any of that stuff happens, once she gets to gene therapy, it's not like snap your fingers and she has to relearn, but the uh ability to relearn is there. So that's good. As uh as a parent, my goal is that you know they could have this cured by next year. My goal is to have Madeline never know that she's gonna have to go through this, exactly. You know, because you want to protect her from everything. And um, as a father, I just want her to never even have to know that's happened to her.

SPEAKER_03 15:00

Well, I mean her worry, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 15:03

I daydream throughout the day sometimes, but like you know, like when she's a teenager and I like you know tell her to do something she doesn't want to do, and like she she's like, I hate you, dad. And like she runs up to her room, slams the door shot in my face, you know, and like I'm thinking in my head, do you have any idea what we went through?

SPEAKER_02 15:16

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:17

But uh, you know, that's like just something that I think about you know often. So you know, we're we're doing everything that we can. We're doing everything that we can, and we're gonna we'll get there.

unknown 15:26

Sure.

SPEAKER_03 15:27

That's really good. Um I'm glad to be a part of it.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

Um, you know, anything you guys we we have a very strong team and we're very happy to have you on our team.

SPEAKER_03 15:34

So thank you. I'm glad to be part of it. And um, you know, we're gonna have a lot of fun readers this summer. We're um doing a cigar night here. So our raffle table, we're gonna be, you know, raffling up some big ticket items and we'll probably raise some funds that night. Um, again, the raffle is running. Hopefully, people will be now that they know I'm having it, um, come in and buy their tickets, so come on in. $25 ticket gives you a $500 gift card. So, I mean, you can't beat the odds on that. That's really good. So, we're gonna run that. We might extend it until to July, give people more time to come in and uh we're gonna pick a winner when we opened up the back, but I think it's a little too soon. So we're looking to get some more raffle tickets sold. And of course, if you want to make a cash donation, you know where I am. Um, you know, we'll pass the money right along to the Nortons, and um, God willing, we'll we'll make some you know, chips away at that big number, you know.

SPEAKER_01 16:21

Every dollar chips away.

SPEAKER_03 16:22

Of course, it chips away at that big number. Yeah, and God willing, you know, we'll get there, you know. Um, trying to think what else we wanted to talk about. So I know you went to Disney. Yeah, what's the plan for the summertime? I know you guys are working.

SPEAKER_04 16:35

Um, so we're still working. Um, we're planning on going back in September. Oh, good. And then taking Madeline on a cruise. It's fun to see the light in her eyes. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:46

Yeah, we were balling.

SPEAKER_04 16:47

I know we were Disney has that effect on it.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

We couldn't, we couldn't hold it together. We when we saw her first reaction with Minnie and Mickey, like this half over at Disney was really, I mean, it was they were so good.

SPEAKER_04 16:59

That's so great. They gave her a handwritten note in Mickey's hair.

SPEAKER_03 17:02

I mean, she was that's good. Amazing. That is amazing. Well, that's just the magic of Disney is is something that it's really they've done a lot of good things.

SPEAKER_01 17:10

We hung up photos for her around the house. She looks at these photos and she it's like he remembers and she like she points, she smiles. We showed her a picture of Stitch while we went to where what was the breakfast? Ohana for Brian Stitch.

SPEAKER_02 17:22

That's fun.

SPEAKER_01 17:23

And Stitch came up to her, like crammed her head and kissed her. Yeah, and we we actually had a really good picture of it, so she sold a picture of that. She laughed, like you know, like it's 17 months, and it's like she like knows and remembers it.

SPEAKER_03 17:35

It's amazing when they're that little, but they're so bright.

SPEAKER_04 17:38

She came back from Disney a different child, like it, so like just everything she does. She is so smart.

SPEAKER_03 17:47

That's so good.

SPEAKER_04 17:48

Um, and she loves looking at all the Disney videos. We play the fireworks for her, we play the Disney castle. She loves looking at the castle in the beginning of the movies.

SPEAKER_01 17:56

Yes, we weren't Disney people up until a week ago. Disney does change.

SPEAKER_03 18:00

I mean, we've gone so far with uh three of our four kids and their kids. So we have one more. We're hoping that this fall is gonna be the one for Cecilia and Nicholas to go. Um, we're hoping, we're hoping, but everybody else is gone and they've gone multiple times. So now we're hoping that the last group gets to go. We'll see, but it's just something about walking down Main Street and just none of us even thought about it. Like Disney was how great are the parades? Did you see the parade? Oh my god, and we're last money at night.

SPEAKER_01 18:26

Yeah, it's amazing.

SPEAKER_04 18:27

Fireworks amazing. So we went to my brother's wedding, so he got married in Disney. They did a welcome party with the fireworks. How beautiful. The music, the amazing, right? Everything about was amazing. Yeah, and then we they had the wedding in Disney. So um we went to the boardwalk, and Nikki and Minnie made an appearance during the wedding. She was dancing with Minnie on the dance floor. I mean, just and you like it's so funny. You see the video, and my brother's holding her hand. She literally grows her to be like, I mean, just she is so in love with it. So I'm like, we have this is the time to bring her.

SPEAKER_00 19:00

And you'll see that video on our TikTok. So if you follow us on TikTok, it's not mission on TikTok, you'll see that video. She literally drops it.

SPEAKER_03 19:08

We gotta get the word out, we gotta raise awareness for PKAN, and um, we gotta get to that 1.3 million.

SPEAKER_01 19:14

Yeah, and I definitely have to say too, like, you know, TikTok is like a relatively new social media platform for me. At least I guess. Yeah, me too.

SPEAKER_03 19:21

I'm not really a TikToker either.

SPEAKER_01 19:23

But uh, we have like what 42,000 followers? 45,000. So I have to say, like, a lot of our GoFundMe, not a lot of our GoFundMe came from the Long Island community, uh by all means. But like we get like random, like throughout the day, like all day. My phone goes off like five dollars, ten dollars, just from somebody seeing our video on TikTok. And yeah, you know, so like the likes and the shares that really goes along.

SPEAKER_03 19:46

Hoping to get more people to you know donate and and you know, be aware of what's really happening. I mean, it's such a rare childhood disease.

SPEAKER_01 19:54

And it's like we're both from S Pig with too. So it's like for us both to have this gene uh is insane, and and for it just to be a 25% chance of her actually getting it when you both have the gene, yeah, is just like it's crazy, right?

SPEAKER_04 20:07

But I'm saying you know, I think there's some people that would say, like, with your faith, how do you remain faithful to God because he gave us? But it I feel like this was given to us because we can handle it and we're gonna do everything we can. She could have been born to someone that would not do what we're guys are doing. She is just the best.

SPEAKER_01 20:28

Yeah, and it's definitely as a as a little family, definitely put us a lot closer.

SPEAKER_03 20:33

Yeah, you know, but you know, everybody goes through a lot of trials and and your faith is definitely shaken. I mean, I know that we've had our share this year as well of some pretty crappy things going on um with our health. But and you do question, like, God, you know, when am I gonna get a break? And okay, God, like, you gotta be kidding me. You know, like really, God. But then you go to bed at night, you say your prayers, and then you like you find that peace. And I feel that we have to hold a little tighter to that sometimes to know that the prayers are heard and answered, and we'll get to the other side of things, and God willing, we'll all be okay. Yeah, um, but it's it's not easy.

SPEAKER_04 21:16

No, definitely not. But it it was not this is you know, this is our job now. Yeah, it's your job now.

SPEAKER_03 21:23

I give you guys a lot of credit that you have such strength and grace to um go things, and you know, it it's it's not easy. Uh, and just remember to make sure you find time for yourselves. Like, you know, if you need a break, take a break. You know, I I know from my own experiences too, like sometimes you try to be this, you know, super one that holds everybody together and everything together, and then all of a sudden you just get it. Yeah, that's me too. I'm like, um that's me. So and it's not easy to be that person all the time, to keep it together all the time. So sometimes if you need a break, just take it, you know.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

Or even if it's just I need you to tell my boss that though.

SPEAKER_03 22:03

Yeah, I gotcha. I gotcha. I think I know a person or two, maybe not a political center, but I know a couple of police officers. Maybe I can help you out in that too. Um, it's funny because we know so many people through here. So I am I have a list of people I'm gonna be reaching out to um this week for you guys. And um, I'm hoping that with any luck we can get you some big donations. Um and I like the islanders. Let's go. Islanders! Yeah, yeah, doing some good stuff for you. I'm loving that.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

We're hoping for that.

SPEAKER_03 22:31

I'm loving that. That's so great.

SPEAKER_01 22:33

Great at least at least to get a 50-50 raffle out of them, you know. That would be great.

SPEAKER_04 22:38

I think it's like the amount of weekend or a playoff game would be great.

SPEAKER_03 22:43

Are they in the playoffs? You know, right? Next week, next year. We're looking at it. He did really good this year, though, right? Yeah, yeah. So uh I I'm hoping that you guys, you know, can get some big donations and gonna help. And uh, I wish you the best. You're always in our prayers. Thank you. And if there's anything you ever need, you know where I am, I'm here. Right in the corner. Right around the corner. How crazy.

SPEAKER_00 23:06

We know where you live.

SPEAKER_04 23:07

I know. Crazy. I was like, oh my god, that's literally one. Everybody knows where I live, so it's a big several science that gives us.

SPEAKER_03 23:16

Literally one block. Yeah, literally one block. Yeah. Because when I was speaking to you, I was in Italy and I'm like, send me your address, and you're like, Yeah, and I'm like, oh my god, I'm like, wait a minute. Like that block one block for me, and you're like, Yeah, like, oh my god, it's like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_01 23:30

That was amazing too, just to have the Padre Pio medals like day of yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 23:34

I mean, it's so special and it just He is my miracle worker, yes, and he does he's been, I don't know, the the force between falling apart and keeping it together for me, especially this past year, too. Um, you know, and just going to Italy and experiencing that was just something that I would recommend to anybody, um, especially with the Padre Pio Foundation in Connecticut, um, Padre Pio Foundation of America. They are a wonderful organization. They did a beautiful pilgrimage, and um, we're disappointed we can't go this year. It's uh the the dates don't match up with our feast. So we have to kind of be here. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed, but um, I can't wait to go back. We're definitely gonna go back again. Um, and it was just good people, like it was it was so nice to have people so open to like understanding that we need the prayers for Madeline. So that was every day in every church, and that prayer bag was on the altar every day, every church. Um, it was amazing to have all those intentions on the altar with everybody's prayers in it. It was nice. I still have them because I can't part with them. So I'm like, what am I gonna do with them? And I can't throw them out. Yeah, no. So I'm like, I still have them. So I was gonna leave them at one of the Padre Peace statues, just to leave them, or leave them with the priests at one of the churches to see if they could still pray, continue to pray for everyone's prayers in the bag, but I just can't part with them yet. Yeah, so I still have them. Uh, so we'll see. But um, always know that we're here if you need anything. And uh I really think that um together we can make a big difference. So, Long Island, if you're listening to me on this podcast, dig deep into those pockets, baby. We need 1.3 million um to fund this research for PKAN. PCAN.

SPEAKER_04 25:24

Yes, PKN.

SPEAKER_03 25:25

Um, and um, you know, let's do this together, and we'll do a lot of good for a lot of those 300 children that need this cure. So I think we can do this, people. I really think we can.

SPEAKER_04 25:35

2026 is the year.

SPEAKER_03 25:37

2026 is the year.

SPEAKER_04 25:38

We keep saying 2026, it's the year.

SPEAKER_03 25:40

It's the year, and we're gonna get it done. All right, well, thank you for coming out. Thank you so much for that. I appreciate you guys coming. I'm sorry. Sam isn't here. He was kind of bummed, but um, you know, he's in a cast, and you know, he's what happens. He's had this injury for a while and he finally um decided it's time to get it fixed. So it's it was right before the summer season gets busy here, and it was like good timing. But it's it's oh my god, it's two weeks tomorrow. It's two weeks tomorrow. Um, he's got another week in the cast. He's unraveling a little bit. It's tough because this is a man that never stops. He never, ever sits still or stops. Never. He doesn't ask anybody.

SPEAKER_01 26:21

I hope he doesn't get used to doing nothing.

SPEAKER_03 26:23

No, he won't. He's he's he's he's unraveling. So we're trying to get to the finish line of next week. The cast, God willing, will come off and then he'll be in a boot, and then it'll be really a matter of seeing, you know, how much time he's allowed to walk on it. But you know, he'll be okay. Yeah, I keep telling, just enjoy your, you know, speaking. We're watching movies. Yeah, we watched King of Kings, like we're doing all the things that we never have time to do. We watched, I think, three or four movies already. Like, we never sit and watch a movie, like never, ever. So we watch the movies, we're just uh we're just laying low and just you know, counting our blessings too, because thank God we have the staff we have, yeah, that they're supposed to run the business when we're taking a break. Uh, our son's here, he's you know, doing what he has to do on this side of the wall. And we're very thankful that you know we have the kids that we have here helping us out, which is a big deal. But anyway, um, so again, thank you for coming out. Thank you. Thank you guys for joining us at a seat at the table. And uh, we look forward to having our next guest next month. We'll see ya.