Chicago proved to be a sweet home for our 38th Annual Family Conference! We welcomed the third largest gathering of families affected by ectodermal dysplasias in history on July 11-13 with 435 people from seven countries attending. It was an extraordinary event filled with new friendships, aha moments, laughter, hugs, and even tears.
Seventy-Five Strong
We thank our hard-working volunteers for the hours they so generously dedicated to the 2019 NFED Family Conference. Without them, this event would not be possible.
Volunteers Needed for Ongoing AEC/EEC Research
Volunteers are needed for ongoing research to design novel therapies for the treatment of skin and cornea lesions that occur in individuals with ankyloblepharon-ectodermal defects-cleft lip and/or palate (AEC) syndrome or ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting (EEC) syndrome. The National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias has supported this research led by Maranke Koster, Ph.D. at University of Colorado Denver.
The Road Less Traveled
Priscilla and Ryan’s newborn baby struggled to feed in the neonatal intensive care unit. He just wouldn’t take a bottle and the family was frantic for answers as to why. The solution and ultimately an ectodermal dysplasia diagnosis came from their nurse, whose expertise was learned first-hand.
Our Powerful Week of Education
Amazing! Wonderful! Informative! Fantastic! Life-Changing! Educational Empowering! Fun! Fascinating! What word best describes our week in Washington D.C.? They all do! For me, it is hard to really describe the impact that week made on our entire community.
Make time to visit with your NFED family
By Meredith Grimes Our first National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED) Family Conference was a life-changing week. We were new to the diagnosis and feeling completely overwhelmed. We had a list of questions a mile long. What is hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), what does it mean to be a carrier, what do we need to…
You’ll Never Be Alone Again
By Maureen Having ectodermal dysplasia can be hard. Especially growing up. I had never met another person with ectodermal dysplasias until I went to my first National Foundation of Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED) Family Conference in 2014 at the age of 46. I had always felt alone. I don’t know which type of ectodermal dysplasia I…
I Love the Family Conference
By Jason D’Angelo I love the Family Conference. It’s my second family and after as many times I have been, I still get so much out of it. I was fortunate enough to bring my girlfriend, Tiff (pictured above), last year which was a huge step in my life. She looks forward to going again…