By Liz Timmerman Just over a year ago, my youngest daughter, Violet, was diagnosed with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia at the age of one year old. The first year of her life was filled with many challenges and I was seriously starting to doubt my abilities as a mother because my baby was always so unhappy, couldn’t…
Spot the Difference?
Mary Emma Roberts is now 12 inches of hair lighter! Mary Emma is six years old, but she began donating her hair to charities two years ago when she was just four. Already at this age, Mary Emma had eight inches of hair to spare. So, Mom, Kara Roberts, decided the time had come to…
Amelia’s Story With AEC Syndrome
Amelia is a teenager who is affected by ankyloblepharon-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip and/or palate (AEC) syndrome. When she was born, she had toes that were connected and a few other signs that were different. She started turning blue at two hours and lived in the NICU for months. She was suffering from chonal atresia. Maggie, her mom,…
Maximus’ Story with Goltz Syndrome
After a normal pregnancy, Brandi and Corey knew right away that something was wrong when their son, Maximus was born. He had a wound on the top of his head, fused fingers and a missing toe. The nurses were hesitant to wipe off the newborn in fear his skin may slough up. In this interview,…
Suzanne’s Story with EEC Syndrome
Suzanne lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Will, and their children, Caitlin and Tyler. Mom and son are both affected by ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting (EEC) syndrome. This tenacious educator grew up never knowing that her symptoms were actually a part of a genetic disorder. In this interview, Suzanne discusses growing up without a diagnosis, finding her…
Maverick’s Story With HED
Roy and Leslie welcomed their fourth child and first son Maverick in 2009. From the beginning, he had signs that made him different than their other three children. He was sensitive to the sunlight where they lived in Texas and only wanted to go outside at night. When Maverick finally developed a few teeth and…
We Volunteer So Others Don’t Feel Lost
by James Kluzek We were asked why we volunteer for the NFED. It all started November 16, 2000 when our daughter, Christina, was born with a genetic disorder called Goltz syndrome. This day changed our lives forever. We had never heard of this syndrome and more importantly most of our doctors knew nothing about it either….
Success: The Best Kind of Revenge
by Patrick Brenner High school is rough. With pressure from your peers to fit in, with pressure from your parents to behave, with pressure from the school to study hard, it’s a miracle any of us made it out alive. Some of us had an exceptionally difficult experience. I consider myself one of those. Back…