Dennis Argyrakis was diagnosed with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B (MEN2b) in 1978, following a long string of misdiagnoses—including failure to thrive, Hirschsprung’s disease, and Crohn’s disease, among others. He was just five years old when doctors finally discovered the truth and immediately removed his thyroid gland. By then, medullary thyroid cancer had already developed. Throughout his childhood, Dennis was shuffled between doctors due to persistent digestive issues. Some had only vaguely heard of MEN2b during medical school; others had never encountered it at all. This was long before the internet, so his parents had few resources to turn to for guidance. At age ten, Dennis was taken to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he and his family met Dr. Donald Zimmerman. Finally, they had a plan for his care, and his quality of life began to improve. In his twenties, Dennis was determined not to let MEN2b define or limit him. With a predicted life expectancy of just 30 to 50 years, he seized life with both hands. He became a firefighter, a SCUBA diver, and traveled the country. At age 20, he experienced another bout of medullary thyroid cancer, but thanks to an experimental surgery, the cancer was completely removed. When Dennis was 31, he met Michele (“Shelly”), who would become his wife. From the start, Shelly was all in—she wanted to learn everything she could about MEN2b. Now with access to the internet, she dove into research, though much of the information she found was grim. Life expectancy estimates remained under 50, and many sources predicted a future of disability for those with MEN2b. The first other person Dennis ever met with MEN2b was his own infant son, Daniel. Amniotic testing had revealed the diagnosis before birth—possibly one of the first in utero MEN2b diagnoses. Fortunately, Dr. Zimmerman had since relocated to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, just 35 miles from their home. With his help, a plan was made, and Daniel underwent surgery to remove his thyroid and large intestine at Lurie. For years, Dennis dreamed of meeting others living with MEN2b and starting a foundation to offer support and guidance. As Daniel grew, Dennis did all he could to help his son navigate life with MEN2b. But Daniel always knew he was different. He was hospitalized more than his older siblings, needed more injections, and had dietary restrictions they didn’t. Knowing Dennis’s desire to connect the community, Shelly had an idea—start Zoom meetings with other kids who had MEN2b. It was an overwhelming success. Families joined from all over the world—South Africa, Sweden, Canada, and across the U.S.—and the children shared not only their medical journeys but also stories about their pets and what they got for Christmas. Lifelong friendships were formed. Dennis and Shelly also made it a point to meet other MEN2bers during their travels, connecting with families in Ohio, Texas, and Tennessee. In 2022, the dream became a reality. The Argyrakis family hosted a kickoff social event at their home in Elburn, IL to launch the MEN2b Foundation. For three days, MEN2bers and their families came together for connection, sharing, and fun. At one point, 14 individuals with MEN2b were under the same roof—a historic gathering, as this condition is incredibly rare. Dr. Zimmerman attended and was stunned by the turnout. He urged the group to do more, emphasizing that such a concentration of individuals with MEN2b had never happened before. Dr. Zimmerman engaged deeply with everyone at the event. Drawing from his extensive experience at the Mayo Clinic, he identified patterns that challenged existing medical assumptions. While literature suggested that 50% of people with MEN2b develop pheochromocytomas, every single adult at the event had experienced them. Additionally, it was observed that those who had taken growth hormones developed pheochromocytomas much earlier than those who hadn’t. Another surprising takeaway: not a single person at the event was disabled. With renewed purpose, the MEN2b Foundation was born—to provide patients and families with education, spiritual support, and practical assistance. One of its core goals is to help families understand that a good, full life is possible with MEN2b. Equally important is improving awareness and education among medical professionals so that signs and symptoms can be recognized earlier, and proper interventions delivered without delay. Today, the foundation has two physicians who’ve pledged their support and are working closely with the team to educate both the MEN2b community and the broader medical field. An enthusiastic and passionate board of directors is helping lead the charge. The Argyrakis family and the MEN2b Foundation are just getting started—and they’re determined to grow their reach, their impact, and their flock.