Camp Discovery to the Rescue!

By Lindsey Higgins When I was six years old, I was officially diagnosed with ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip/palate syndrome, also referred to as EEC syndrome. As most of you already know, EEC effects one’s teeth, hair, nails, sweat glands, tear ducts and skin. After feeling alone and confused most of my life, and uncomfortable in my…

Ronan, Our Unborn "Celtic" Legend…What a Shock and a Joy!

By Dennis Claire, D.P.M., Father of Denny and soon to be Ronan Well before she was pregnant, my wife said, “If it’s a boy, he’ll be named Ronan.”  Our first son, Denny, had a name which was predestined through generations of naming a son in the family Dennis. I didn’t want to break Irish tradition, and…

Overwhelmed With Love and Belonging!

By Terri Andrews I was born in a little rural area in Alabama in 1959. Not much was known about ectodermal dysplasia nor the type of ectodermal dysplasias I was born with called ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-clefting (EEC) syndrome. If I received any type of major treatment or surgery, I had to travel at least 100 miles, which was not…

The True Meaning In Life Is To Plant Trees, Under Whose Shade You Never Expect To Sit!

 By Ashli Matus-George Allyson Kelso’s Aunt Founder, Rally for Ally When Ally was born on December 22, 2004 in Oxnard, CA, it was an exciting time.  A new baby, Christmas for her three-year-old big sister, Morgan. My then fiancé, Tom, and I were recently engaged and planning a wedding, Kristin had a thriving career, and…

She Was One of the Founding Families as a Toddler in 1981. Today, She’s an Advocate for the Community.

Hi there, My name is JoAnna Nix and I volunteered last fall to help represent the NFED at my local Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and State Campaigns.  The NFED is known as the Skin and Dental Dysfunction Foundation #10604 by the CFC. Being a government employee, I’ve seen that government workers really do care about their communities and want…

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth

At Christmastime, I am reminded of many happy childhood traditions and memories. Some of my favorite memories involve snuggling up to watch Miracle on 34th Street, or leaping around the family room in a tutu along with The Nutcracker. (I will gleefully reenact this now, except without the tutu.) When I was growing up, we had…