Twelve-year-old Mara Grace Norton is a seventh grader at OMS with a rare disease known as MPS VI. This abbreviated term is short for the medical name of the disease, mucopolysaccharidosis VI.

According to MPS Society, this rare but serious disease occurs when the persons body is missing a certain enzyme that is essential in the breakdown of sugar molecules called mucopolysaccharides. These sugar molecules contribute to the building of connective tissues in the human body, and with the unbroken molecules collecting in the cells and tissue, the body starts to show signs of progressive damage.

Though there is no cure to this disease, there are certain treatments kids can undergo. Mara has recently started chemotherapy, and as of twelve o’clock today, has begun her second bone marrow transplant.

On the day of her transplant, kids from both the middle and high school wore purple, Mara’s favorite color, in order to show their support. “It’s all so crazy. We’re so appreciative of everyone’s support,” said Catherine Braunschweig, Mara’s older sister. Catherine graduated from OHS in the Spring of 2012.

Anna Anderson is the News Editor for The Spartan Speaks.