Support RJ (Coach) and Melissa Hopwood’s Daughter Lexi’s Fight Against Rare Mitochondrial Disease

RJ (Coach) and Melissa Hopwood’s daughter Lexi (13), is courageously battling a rare and complex condition known as Combined Oxidative Phosphorylation Complexes I and IV—a life-threatening form of mitochondrial disease. Lexi has spent nearly half of her childhood in and out of hospitals, showing incredible strength and resilience through every challenge. The Hopwoods have been generous with many of us and our children over the years without ever asking for help. This is a plea from the friends of the Hopwoods to all that are close to Coach RJ and Melissa to consider generously giving financial support necessary to help give their beautiful young daughter the best possible chance to thrive over the next several years.

The GiveSendGo campaign goal is $225,000.

This campaign is already off to an excellent start with $100,000+ already generously funded by a number of amazing friends (+ points donated to cover flights/hotels). Total Funds/Miles will help the Hopwood Family reach the minimum $225,000 required to covers Lexi's treatments, necessary travel, and therapy related expenses for her rare Mitochondrial disease.

We can't thank you enough for your consideration. If you've already been contacted please accept our apologies.

Further background including pictures below.

Lexi has now completed two rounds of MDI infusion therapy at The James Clinic* in St. Louis, Missouri, totaling seven infusions to date. These initial treatments have been a success, offering hope and encouragement for what lies ahead.

These infusions are designed to restore proper insulin signaling and glucose utilization within cells, helping to boost mitochondrial ATP (energy) production, improve cellular balance, support gene expression and repair, and guide cells back toward healthier function. In short, they aim to address the root causes of conditions tied to energy deficits, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction.

Lexi’s treatment plan will require monthly travel to St. Louis for two to three infusion sessions each visit, likely over the next 5–6 years. In addition, the clinic may incorporate further supportive therapies such as NAD, peptides, and methylene blue to enhance her progress.

For children with mitochondrial disease, puberty is an especially critical and vulnerable time, as the body’s increased energy demands can trigger metabolic crises or even organ failure. The prognosis for Lexi’s specific condition is serious. Early and aggressive intervention has the potential to significantly alter and possibly save her life.

In addition, recent lab results revealed severely elevated oxidative stress, early insulin resistance, lipid abnormalities, and a significant vitamin D deficiency. Factors that can further impact mitochondrial function and overall health. In response, Lexi’s doctor is proactively addressing these findings by adding three supportive therapies to her regimen. These additions will work alongside her monthly infusion treatments to help reduce oxidative stress, improve cellular function, and strengthen her body during this critical stage.

Thank you for standing with Lexi and being part of her fight.

*The James Clinic is a concierge-style functional and integrative medicine practice led by Dr. James, a board-certified physician in general surgery and critical care. After years in traditional hospital settings, she shifted her focus to address the limitations she saw in treating complex, chronic conditions. Her approach draws on over 30 years of global clinical use of pulsatile insulin therapies, which have been administered to hundreds of thousands of patients.

*While we ultimately were not able to pursue a 501(c)(3) charitable structure for this effort, we did carefully explore that option as part of our fundraising planning process.

-Friends of Lexi, Frankie, Melissa and Coach RJ Hopwood