Augusto, Michaela, and Lorenzo Odone

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Augusto Daniel Odone (March 6, 1933 – October 24, 2013) and Michaela Teresa Murphy Odone (January 10, 1939 – June 10, 2000) were the parents of Lorenzo Michael Murphy Odone (May 29, 1978 – May 30, 2008), who had adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). They became famous for developing a controversial treatment using Lorenzo's oil for their son's incurable illness. This quest was recounted in the film Lorenzo's Oil (1992).^[1] Augusto had previously been an economist for the World Bank.^[2]

In recognition of the parents' work, Augusto Odone received an honorary doctorate from the University of Stirling. He continued to raise funds and drive the scientific task force known as The Myelin Project until his death. Michaela Odone battled lung cancer for some time and died on June 10, 2000, at the age of 61.^[3]

Lorenzo died the day after his 30th birthday. He was almost totally paralyzed but was, according to his father Augusto, "holding his own". He was unable to speak or move on his own. He communicated by wiggling his fingers and blinking his eyes. His mind was intact and he enjoyed music and having people read to him.^[4] He lived with his father in Virginia and was cared for by nurses and his family friend, Oumouri Hassane.^[5]

In mid-2010, two years after Lorenzo's death, Augusto Odone sold his home in Virginia and moved to Acqui Terme in his native Italy, near his father's village of Gamalero where he lived when he was young. He died there on 24 October 2013, at the age of 80.^[6]