Donations
If this site has helped you along your journey, please consider donating to our featured 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Walk With DeCo.
Your gift directly supports research on collagen diseases including Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (VEDS), a rare and life-threatening genetic condition.
Our story
Our family has several members who are affected by an inherited collagen vascular disease, Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome or VEDS.
Our non profit charity, WalkwithDeco.org was started by our son in law, Mike DeCoursey or Deco as he is known, after several aneurysms ruptured in his abdomen and leg due to VEDS. Luckily, his leg was saved, which encouraged him to walk 4 million steps and raise $40,000 for VEDS research in 2021.
Walk with Deco, continues to raise funds for research with our newest initiative of building a humanized mouse model with Georgia Tech and Emory University.
A humanized mouse model is the first step in understanding an inherited collagen vascular disease.
This model will be available to any researcher expanding the field and utility of the mouse not only in VEDS but any inherited vascular collagen disease. It will speed up the process of treatments and cures. This is important as there are no cures for a vascular collagen disease.
Current Research
Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston
is studying VEDS and physical activity in children.
Lead investigator Dr. Shaine Morris
The mice are born!
Georgia Tech and Emory University in Atlanta are developing a humanized VEDS mouse model to advance research on collagen and aneurysm-related diseases.
Lead investigator Dr. W. Robert Taylor
Research Updates
Humanized Mouse Model for VEDS
Construction of the DNA vector is completed for the normal and the VEDS mutation. In October 2025, the vectors were inserted into the mouse embryonic stem cells. In December 2025, we had several mice born with the wild type gene. Two pups were born in January 2026 hopefully with the mutation. More in 3 weeks!
Every contribution helps fuel hope and progress