Please click below to read. Thank you.
in the Dispatch
in the QC Times
in the Muscatine Journal
in the Sioux City Journal
in the Daily Nonpariel Council Bluffs.
in the Mason City Globe Gazette.
in the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Rare Disease Day
Newspaper column #66: You’re rare, show your stripes
click below to read in the Dispatch
click below to read in the Times
Dispatch column #18: Help those navigating rare paths.
Rare Disease Day, a chance to talk about Prader-Willi Syndrome
It’s here! Rare Disease Day. 10 facts you might not know about PWS:
random facts in no particular order gathered and shared by me
10. Prevalence: 1:15,000. [Anne’s note: we are some of the lucky ones who got a very early diagnosis. PWS was suspected for Katie at 4 days old]
9. The constant hunger of PWS is thought to be due to dysfunction of the hypothalamus and/or (not sure) disregulation of hormones of the gut. [Anne’s note: some describe it as “decreased satiation rather than increased hunger”…I never realized there was a difference…doesn’t not feeling satisfied mean feeling hungry? I don’t get it.]
8. The most common genetic cause of life-threatening childhood obesity is PWS.[Anne’s note: the good thing about the current, national hysteria over obesity is that PWS is getting some attention and being used as a “control” group in some hunger-related studies.]
7. Individuals with PWS typically have intellectual disabilities and exhibit more behavior issues compared to individuals with similar intellectual disability. [Anne’s note: I, too, have behavior issues when I am hungry.]
6.The constant need for behavioral management and food restrictions may cause stress for the family members. [Anne’s note: the use of the word “may” in this sentence cracked me up.]
5. PWS is a two stage syndrome. Stage one involves low muscle tone, feeding problems and poor weight gain in infancy. [Anne’s note: feeding “problems” become the main focus from the start. A cruel sense of humor has parents doing everything they can to get nourishment into their baby, only to have to restrict it in the next stage.]
4. Of people with PWS, 1 in 35 die from gastric rupture after eating too much in a short period of time. [Anne’s note: clearly the reason for vigilant supervision]
3. Speech, Occupational and Physical therapies are all beneficial for people with PWS. [Anne’s note: and if you are lucky enough to have a Lisa Nordstrom in your school district, a PH itinerant teacher is fantastic!]
2. Growth Hormone Therapy for PWS not only increases final height, but increases bone density, muscle mass,& stamina. [Anne’s note: thanks to Katie, who was a test subject for the research project discovering this]
1. More important than any of the facts you have just learned is this: There is LOVE! [Anne’s note: yes, there is love.]
Devour My Words 