by Keri Ninness Today is #rarediseaseday2021. I have a complicated relationship with this day. There are things a parent of a child with a rare disease is *supposed* to say. We should say we are grateful (we are) and that our child is hard working, resilient, persevering (dear heavens is he). We should say...
Continue readingRare Disease Day 2021 Save the Date
Please join us and participate in Rare Disease Day 2021. No action is too small. What is Rare Disease Day? Rare Disease Day is the official international awareness-raising campaign for rare diseases. Rare Disease Day takes place on the last day of February each year. This year it is Sunday, February 28th. What is...
Continue readingCelebrating Rare Disease Day in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA
by Erica Lee Trevino “My son, Jordan is 6 years old and has OCNDS. I want to bring awareness to our community about OCNDS. Today, here in the Rio Grande Valley, we held an awareness event at his elementary school. It made me feel so amazed how much support he had from his own...
Continue readingThe Importance of Raising Awareness and Its Effect on Social Opportunity by Jacquie Lopez
Amanda (at right) graduating with her proud sister, Madie, by her side. by Jacquie Lopez “3 weeks ago my eldest daughter, Amanda, had a job interview at Inspire Me Bracelets. Her sister Madie just wanted to go with her to the interview. Amanda didn’t want to tell her no and hurt Madie’s feelings. Even...
Continue readingOffering Timo The Best Future by Myrthe Dolstra
By Myrthe Dolstra Our Timo was born on 11/22/2016, I was exactly 37 weeks pregnant. It was a tiny man with long blond hairs. It was a lot smaller and lighter than expected, but we were not worried at the time. We were in love with our little man. After 6 months, it started...
Continue reading“We Had No Idea” by Amber Reynolds
We Had No Idea Rare Disease Day Reflection from a Rare Warrior Mama, Amber Reynolds: When Harper was born we had no idea about genetic diseases, developmental disabilities, and that sometimes “healthy” babies have underlying problems that show up well after birth. We had no idea that 9 months later our lives would be...
Continue readingI Challenge You
by Melissa Burnham Today is Rare disease day!!! After almost 7 years, Belle was finally diagnosed with a rare, newly founded, genetic disease called OKUR-CHUNG Neurodevelopmental syndrome ( Named after the two Scientists who discovered it.) We are so grateful for answers, and the sweet community we have gained. I thought I’d give a...
Continue readingReflections on Rare Disease Day
by Amber Reynolds As today is Rare Disease day, I wanted to share my sweet Harper’s story again. To honor this day I want to highlight her very rare syndrome, Okur-Chung Neurodevelopmental Syndrome. Many of you are aware of our journey and trying to find a diagnosis for Harper. We knew within Harper’s first...
Continue readingRare Disease Day Awareness Project
For Direct Link to YouTube Video, click here Led by the talented and inspirational artist, Tere Casas, adults and children painted what makes them happy and what community means to them. Tere Casas created a short but powerful video of the extraordinary process. Thank you, Tere, for using art to bring us together! CSNK2A1...
Continue readingArt Brings Community Together for Rare Disease Day
Tere Casas is a celebrated and well known artist from Mexico whose work has been showcased around the world. She is an exceptional artist with a huge heart. For Rare Disease Day, she donated her time to show how art can bring a community together. Kids from our Bay Area community transformed a blank...
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