For the Reporter
Kent’s Michael Jorski captured a silver medal for his soccer skills at the King County Region Soccer Tournament on May 3.
“Words can’t describe how I feel when I watch him compete, but I can tell how much he loves playing when I see him smile,” said Michael’s mother, Susan. “His smile tells me everything he can’t fully express with words.”
Michael lives with a rare disease, tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), which causes a variety of resulting symptoms and conditions. In Michael’s case, these include cognitive delays and autism.
May is International Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) Awareness Month, a time to celebrate and support those with this rare condition and to learn more about the disease itself.
Michael, 15, loves sports, especially bowling, basketball and soccer. A master of spares and strikes who also excels at dribbling, passing and kicking. He’s been competing in Special Olympics Washington since junior high school.
“One thing I learned is I should never underestimate my son,” Susan said. “He has taught us so much over these past 15 years. When he first joined Special Olympics in 2011, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I didn’t think he would catch on so quickly.”
Michael attends Kent-Meridian High School, where he is in the Adaptive Support Center, which provides additional school support for those with special needs.
His parents, Susan and Matt, are members of the TS Alliance, a primary tuberous sclerosis U.S. advocacy group. Together with Novartis and the TS Alliance, they are working to raise awareness about Michael’s road to the Special Olympics and about his journey living with TSC.
Michael’s story was featured in this year’s “Unlock the Cure” video on the TS Alliances website.
Follow Michael’s continued success with Special Olympics at tscathletes.tumblr.com/.
Susan recently met with state representatives from Washington and Oregon in Washington, D.C., to support research funds for TSC.
In addition, The Step Forward to Cure TSC Walk/5K Run is Sept. 21 at Seward Park in Seattle. The 5K run begins at 9 a.m., the walk at 10 a.m.
To learn more, visit tsalliance.org.
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