• 2013 Benefit Concert: Recap

    Featuring Chris Trapper With Opening Act Joshua Davis Trio

    Thank you to everyone who helped make our 2nd Annual Benefit Concert, held on April 13, 2013, an overwhelming success! Due to the generous support of our donors, sponsors, and attendees, this year’s benefit raised a record amount of over $26,000 to support our mission to raise awareness, educate, and support research for invisible illnesses. Your kindness and generosity are very much appreciated!

  • We Welcome Donations

    Through financial contributions and volunteering.

    You can donate using any of the donation boxes on our website or, contact us at lifeasazebrafoundation.org to learn more about how you can become involved. We thank you for helping us make a difference.

    Donations Volunteer

  • Featured Story

    As seen on HOMTV's Community Connection

    Produced by Max Ieuter of HOMTV. This is Katie and Allie's story.

Zebra News

  • Live Love Michigan Partners with Life as a Zebra Foundation!

    Life as a Zebra Foundation is so excited to announce that we will be partnering with Live Love Michigan for the month of December! For their Hold on to Hope Campaign, Live Love Michigan will design unique, one of a kind, Life as a Zebra apparel! Through the sales of the merchandise, and the Hold on to [...]

  • Zebra Nation Store is up and running!

    We’ve made some updates to the store that supports the Life as a Zebra Foundation. It’s now SSL encrypted with a new payment processing option besides Paypal (although you can still use Paypal if you would like).
    We’ll keep you updated when new products become available in the store but right now you can buy [...]

Life As A Zebra Foundation

In medical school, students are taught to diagnose patients based on the condition that’s most likely. This idea goes along with the saying: “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” The horses are the likely explanation, while the zebras are less likely. A medical zebra, then, is a person with a rare medical condition.

Life as a Zebra Foundation’s Mission

The primary purpose of the Life as a Zebra Foundation is to receive and administer funds for the purpose of education and charitable contributions for education, prevention, treatment, and research of various rare, invisible illnesses including, but not limited to, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Dysautonomia, and Vasculitis.

Dysautonomia

Dysautonomia literally means dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is the master regulator of organ function throughout the body. It is involved in the control of heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiration, digestion and other vital functions.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Individuals with EDS have a defect in their connective tissue, the tissue that provides support to many body parts such as the skin, muscles and ligaments. The fragile skin and unstable joints found in EDS are the result of faulty collagen.

Vasculitis

Vasculitis is a family of rare and chronic autoimmune diseases, all characterized by the inflammation of blood vessels. There are more than 15 different vasculitis diseases, all of which can affect people of various ages, races, and genders.