EP14 – Rare Mamas Rising-A North Star In A Rare Universe with Cure Founder & Rare Mom Caroline Cheung-Yiu
Rare Mamas Rising Episode 14
For over 12 years, a cruel and debilitating disease slowly robbed Caroline’s son Alex of his abilities. Countless medical and genetic tests and some of the best physicians, scientists, and researchers in the world were perplexed by Alex’s condition. Then in 2018, through miraculous intervention, Alex’s genetic data was reanalyzed, and he was found to have a newly discovered, rare, non-inherited, spontaneous genetic disease called NEDAMSS (Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Regression, Abnormal Movements, Loss of Speech, and Seizures) or IRF2BPL related disorder. During the time Caroline was relentlessly seeking answers for her son’s illness, she created a community called CURE. CURE connects families lacking a diagnosis for their child and empowers them with local resources to forge ahead in their diagnostic odyssey. Caroline believes we are all stars lighting up the sky in the rare universe, and once you meet Caroline, you’ll undoubtedly see why for those in the undiagnosed community, she’s a “North Star!”
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
- The unlikely way Alex’s diagnosis was ultimately discovered (you won’t believe it)
- How Caroline maintained hope as years passed without answers
- Caroline’s best resources and insights for parents whose children are still on a diagnostic journey
LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED
Complex Rare Undiagnosed & Extraordinary (CURE)
Undiagnosed Disease Network – NIH
Rare Genomes Project – The Broad Institute
Center for Rare Childhood Disorders – TGen
Precision Medicine Clinic – Rady Children’s Genomic Institute
Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research – Boston Children’s Hospital
iHope Genetic Health – Illumina and Genetic Alliance
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