| Female 5 - KISS MOM: GODIVA DAD: CADENCE Born: 1/22/11 Ready: 3/19/10 Brody's Puppy - MAYA GRIFFIN Guntersville, Alabama |
| Click photos to go to parents' webpages |
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| Brody Griffin.... so much to tell about who he is, how he has changed lives; how he was diagnosed with Fragile X Syndrome, Austim, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, hearing loss and strabismus, only to name a few, and how his life without hope in a Guatemalen orphanage changed to a life filled with blessings with his four brothers and sisters (two also adopted from Guatemala) when a wonderful Christian couple I'm happy to call friends adopted him. Brody went home with his new mom and dad at age 22 months weighing only 20 pounds- the size of a six month old baby. He could not hold his own bottle and had never had solid food. He had acid burns on his back from urine and scars from feces on his rectum. He lost half of his hair when he went home due to stress. Such a sad start to life, but with early intervention, he is using his own laptop computer, wearing headphones, even went potty for the first time in this week (3-5-11) and enjoying life while still taking NO medications. A testament to a loving family and answered prayers. You can get to know Brody on his blog at: http://www.whosbrody.blogspot.com |
| Brody and his beloved service dog, Milo. Millo went to over Rainbow's Bridge on 1/23/11 |
| What is Fragile X? The Top Ten Things You Should Know About Fragile X Syndrome By Mary Beth Langan and Sally Nantais 1. It’s genetic. 2. If a woman is a carrier, she has a 50/50 chance of passing it on to her son(s) or daughter(s). 1 in 100 to 200 women are carriers **. 3. If a man is a carrier he will pass it only to his daughter(s), and they will only be carriers. 1 in 800 men are carriers. 4. Fragile X Syndrome does not discriminate; it doesn’t care which ethnic group you belong to. 5. Fragile X Syndrome is a spectrum disorder. Symptoms may vary from mild learning disabilities (including shyness and social anxiety) to severe cognitive impairment (mental retardation). 6. Premature Ovarian Failure, more commonly known as early menopause, is a condition that affects 20-28% of the female FXS carrier population. 7. Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS), discovered in 2001, is a neurological disorder that can involve tremors, balance irregularities, difficulty walking and dementia which sadly is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's and/or Alzheimer’s. This condition is present in some older FXS carriers (typically after the age of fifty), usually in males but FXTAS can also affect female carriers. 8. There are minor physical traits noted in many persons with Fragile X Syndrome, but not in all. These are traits which may also be present within the typical population, nothing unique which would necessarily indicate FXS testing is necessary for your child. 9. When testing for Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), it is critical that the correct tests are ordered – the Fragile X DNA (Southern Blot) and PCR analysis. Inaccurate results occur far too often with the generic chromosomal panel. Test for FXS to obtain a diagnosis or to rule it out. If you don’t have what may be the correct diagnosis of FXS, then you will never be aware of improved treatments or the cure when it’s found. 10. Where to go for the most accurate and up- to-date information on fragile X syndrome: http://www.fragilex.org/, the National Fragile X Foundationhttp://www.fraxa.org/, Fraxa Research Foundationhttp://www. conquerfragilex.org/, Conquer Fragile X Foundation** American Academy of Family Physicians, News and Publications, Vol. 72/No. 1 (July 1, 2005) http://www.aafp. org/afp/20050701/111.html Mary Beth Langan and Sally Nantais are both Fragile X Syndrome carriers; each has a son with Fragile X Syndrome. They can be contacted at mblangan@hotmail.com and sally_nada@juno.com |
