Kahlia
Kahlia (pronounced like the flower Dahlia but with a “K”) was born in Pune, India on September 25, 2008. She became a part of our forever family on May 9, 2010. We were unaware of her 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
Shelby
Shelby is 17 years old, born in Michigan, but moved to Alabama the week of her first birthday. A cardiologist has always been a part of her life, but she was 2 before we received the diagnosis for 22q deletion syndrome.
Roger
I am Roger, a 60-year-old man who was born in 1960 with DiGeorge Syndrome and the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome but did not receive a diagnosis until I was 43 years old!
Cayden Helvey
It was a bright, overcast, Summer day in 2011. Fearless, 33-month-old Cayden David Helvey with 22q11.2 has overcome 5 surgeries. He jumped into the downtown Sanford North Carolina train park fountain with clothes and all.
Bailey Finch
Bailey was born in December 2004 and came home from the hospital as a healthy little girl. At 2 weeks old her doctor heard a heart murmur during a routine office visit and we were sent to a pediatric cardiologist to make sure that nothing serious was going on.
Alannah O’Malley
Alannah was born on 7th May 2006 after a normal pregnancy and very fast delivery. All appeared fine and we were thrilled with our little girl.
Jeff Stalker
Jeff was born on November 23, 1992 and we immediately knew he had a cleft of the soft palate and low calcium levels. We were told that nothing else was wrong with our son.
Amy Riordan
I guess I didn’t want to leave the warm cocoon of my mother’s belly because of all the problems in the world I would face with my health. That was evident when they found that when I exited finally the cord was wrapped around my neck.
Leah Ryan
Leah Ryan is now 17, and amongst other things she has experienced learning difficulties and problems with fine motor skills since she was a baby – but was only diagnosed with a mild form of the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome when she had just turned 12.