People make fun of the baby because it has white hair, but wait until you see what it looks like years later. A Mother’s Journey: Raising Children with Albinism

People make fun of the baby because it has white hair, but wait until you see what it looks like years later. A Mother’s Journey: Raising Children with Albinism

Patricia Williams, like many parents, was delighted to capture and share photos of her newborn son Redd. However, when he started sharing his photos with others, he got an unpleasant surprise.

A surprising diagnosis: oculocutaneous albinism type one (OCA1)

In 2012, Patricia’s son Redd was born with white hair. But it wasn’t until he was two months old that she and her husband, Dale, noticed certain peculiarities about him. Redd’s eyes moved back and forth, a symptom often associated with albinism.Looking for answers, Dale turned to Google and discovered that her son had several signs of albinism, including pale skin, white hair and searching eyes.

In search of an official diagnosis, the couple consulted opticians and geneticists, who confirmed that Redd suffered from oculocutaneous albinism type 1 (OCA1). This disease affects around one in 17,000 people worldwide.

The Challenges of Albinism: Bullying and Memes

Redd’s unique appearance attracted attention from the moment he was born. The people at the hospital were excited to see a baby with white hair and blue eyes.At first, Patricia didn’t think much of it, considering that she, her husband, and their firstborn son, Gage, all had blonde hair.

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However, as Redd’s hair became whiter and his eyes bluer, it became clear that his condition would last a lifetime. In February 2018, Patricia gave birth to her second son, Rockwell, who also suffered from albinism.

The family faced challenges when Redd was bullied at school because of his appearance. Gage, his older brother, protected him.However, the most shocking incident occurred when photos of Redd’s newborn  were stolen and turned into cruel memes on social media.

Albinism Awareness Advocates

Patricia and Dale initially attempted to remove the images, but soon realized the futility of their efforts. Instead, they decided to work to raise awareness about albinism to combat bullying and misconceptions about the disease.

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The attention gained through viral memes led to Patricia becoming a voice for albinism awareness. People reached out to her because they were curious about her son’s appearance, which made her realize there was a lack of knowledge about albinism beyond the limited portrayal in films.A Journey of Growth and Acceptance

Redd underwent eye surgery to correct his squint and switched from a private school for blind children to a public school. The surgery proved to be a positive decision as it significantly improved Redd’s condition. Instead of wearing an eye patch, What would have drawn unwanted attention, the operation allowed Redd to better integrate with his teammates.As Redd and Rockwell grew older, their friends focused less  on their “differences.” They understood that Redd needed a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for outdoor activities, but  could otherwise do everything any other child could do. Both boys were successful in their own way.

A Bright Future Ahead

On April 28, 2023, Patricia happily shared a touching clip of her son Rockwell attending his school’s Western Day event.This time around, the little one received a lot of love and appreciation on social media, with people showering him with compliments like “cute” and “adorable.”

Clearing up misconceptions about albinism

Patricia took the opportunity to address a common misconception about albinism. He explained that many people mistakenly believe that people with albinism have red eyes. In reality, their eyes are more of a light blue due to a lack of pigment.

Thrive and Enjoy Life

Today, both Redd and Rockwell are thriving and living their lives to the fullest.Their journey has been full of challenges and triumphs, and this extraordinary family couldn’t be happier with their progress.