Cole Canning, nephew of head women's soccer coach Michele Canning, was diagnosed with Mitchell Syndrome in November 2021. 

Mitchell Syndrome is an extremely rare genetic disease that results from a genetic mutation on the ACOX1 gene of a child's DNA. According to The Mitchell and Friends Foundation, this genetic mutation leads to axons—nerve "cables" running from the brain to the body—becoming inhibited. As a result of this axonal damage, a child develops mobility and balance problems, and slowly loses gross and fine motor skills. Hearing, eye, and skin problems are also common, and sometimes—as the disease progresses—cognitive decline.
  "When my nephew, Cole Canning, was diagnosed, he was only the ninth person in the whole world with the disease," Canning said. "There are currently only 16 people worldwide diagnosed with Mitchell Syndrome. My nephew is only five years old, full of energy and a one-of-a-kind personality."

Cole met the NYU women's soccer team at their spring game this year, despite recently losing the ability to walk and facing hearing loss for the past year-and-a-half. He's been in the hospital working with physical therapists to regain motor skills for the past three weeks and has quickly picked up American Sign Language.

NYU women's soccer alumni and current players, along with head men's soccer coach Kim Wyant, have raised over $3,000 toward Cole's medical bills and equipment. 

The first person diagnosed with the disease was Mitchell Herndon, who the syndrome is named after. Herndon, a St. Louis native, was treated by doctors at Washington University in St. Louis, a fellow University Athletic Association institution. The Mitchell and Friends Foundation recently partnered with WashU to establish a research fund dedicated to supporting physician-scientists who are committed to investigating Mitchell Syndrome, with the goal of eventually finding a treatment and cure for the disease.

"Our family wants to spread awareness as much as possible to help all those affected by Mitchell Syndrome," Canning added. "We believe this could help Cole and so many other kids like him. I am so grateful to the NYU Athletics community for their support. I also feel very lucky to work at NYU in the UAA with other world renowned research institutions. Our network and resources are vast and hopefully, with increased awareness and funding, we will see more developments."

Cole and his family live in the Philadelphia area and his story was featured on The Preston & Steve Show, a popular radio program in the region.

The Mitchell and Friends Foundation's website provides additional information to learn more about Mitchell Syndrome, including Cole's and other impacted families' stories as well as the research fund at WashU. The Canning Family GoFundMe gives more details on Cole's battle with the disease and provides the ability to support his journey.