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Collaborating With Friends Globally

By Mary Fete Here it is November with the holidays just around the corner.  For you, I am sure that it has been a busy fall.  It is always so hectic getting the kids back to school and/or working on the end of the year work commitments.  Fall is rapidly ending (although the weather in…

NFED.Org Gets Extreme Makeover

By Mare Fete, Executive Director Great news! Our online home at www.NFED.org has had an extreme makeover. We have launched an entirely new website to better serve our ectodermal dysplasias community. It’s our gift to our families, donors, volunteers and care providers in celebration of our 35th anniversary. Families complained about the old site, how…

How This Teen Takes On Life With Ectodermal Dysplasia

By Kayte Speegle Hi. My name is Kayte. I am one of six in my family affected by hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. I would love to say that it is “nothing,” but it is definitely a lot of something. My grandpa was the first of the family to be diagnosed with ectodermal dysplasia. Then, there was…

Dry Eyes in Ectodermal Dysplasias

By Richard A. Lewis, M.D., M.S. Many different disorders of the eye affect the stability of the tear film; an unstable tear film is a hallmark of “dry eyes”.  Proper classification of the cause of a tear deficiency is critical for several reasons: Appropriate therapy depends on proper diagnosis; Certain conditions of dry eyes are…

Why Oliver Is Smiling Even Bigger

Oliver wakes up every morning with the biggest smile in the world even though he has only six teeth. He’s affected by hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia. Last Tuesday, Oliver received his dentures and he is thrilled! Now his usual big smile is even bigger. In honor of Oliver, his parents, Matt and Vanessa Nehrkorn, recently held…

A Leap of Faith to Open Ourselves

By Nancy Nelsen, Guest Blogger We attended the National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED) Family Conference during the summer of 2015 in Colorado Springs.  Neither of us, my husband, Karl and I, were prepared for the emotions that filled us as we listened to other families’ stories, and told our own. We felt supported, connected…

Family Volunteers Launch NFED @Home Events

Planning  a party or get together is work. Planning one for people you may have never met before can be even more daunting! But not for two of our Family Liaisons who hosted our inaugural NFED @Home events. These are our newly established informal family gatherings that we hope to take place throughout the United States. Julie and…