Inspiring * Transformational * Courageous * Personable

Rare Gems… One in a Million

Rare Disease Month

 

I don’t mean to brag, but my two youngest twin boys are one in a million.  No really, I’m not delusional, I’m not a mother blinded by maternal love — my babies really were born one in a million.  It’s only one in a million twins that are born with Mucolipidosis II (aka ML2, aka i-cell disease, aka the bane of our existence).

February marks World Rare Disease Day #wwdd2016.  Before October 27th 2008, my husband and I have never heard of i-cell disease.  In fact, it took a team of medical experts over six weeks of tests to finally determine what was keeping our babies from thriving in the NICU.  Even THEY had either 1) never heard of it or  2) had only come across it briefly while studying genetics but had never actually treated a patient with i-cell.  Only one of the long lists of specialists had ever treated a child with i-cell.

What is it?  I-cell disease is a terminal illness, with the life expectancy lasting rarely past age 8.  There are currently no treatments, no cures, and very little funding for research.  It’s an uphill battle to be the parent of a terminally ill child.  But I wouldn’t change it for all the money in the universe.  My i-cell babies have taught me what it means to be a warrior.  They have taught me what it means to be happy, to love unconditionally, and to depend on faith.  I’m a very blessed and honored mama to have been given these two rare warriors to be mine.

This month there are many very worthy causes to advocate, education oneself on and be passionate about. Political stuff!  Black History stuff!  Go Red for Women (women’s cardiac health) stuff! All kinds of well deserved stuff!  But this mama will spend the majority of her energy hash tagging the snot out of #RareDisease #CareforRare #icell #ml2 #mucolipidosisII #terminalIllness …. I’m sure I’ll come up with some other good gems to heighten the cause.  So pick your cause and take a stand. Why?  Your stuff matters!  Your voice matters!  When you’re passionate about something then your stuff begins to matter to others.  I’m working on making my baby’s legacy matter.  #StepBackWhileIBragAboutMyOneInAMillionBabies

 

 

About the Author
In 1995, Mercedes Ramirez Johnson narrowly survived a commercial airplane crash that killed 160 people, including her parents. As one of only four survivors of this tragedy, she vowed that she would make her second chance at life count…and that she has – not only for herself, but also for the tens of thousands of people who have heard her story and her message.

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