When guest speaker and then expectant mother, Tracey Thomas, first heard of this her prayer group had been asked to pray for an infant in Centre Alabama born with this rare disorder. So why was it important to have Tracey speak on this subject at the bi-monthly Civitan meeting? Because just a few months later on November 20, 2007 Tracey gave birth to her second son, Jackson. As unbelieveable as it may seem, it was quickly discovered that he too was born with RCDP. Please click here to read their full story. One of the many physicians that the Thomas's have been in contact with decribed this as being in epidemic porportion because out of approximately thirteen known cases, two are in Alabama. In addition to extreme dwarfism, most children born with RCDP suffer problems with their eyes, ears, respiratory system and often heart problems. Jackson has had cataract surgery on both eyes, tubes placed in his ears and among the barrage of medical visits and proceedures, he receives regular respiratory therapy. So what does Civitan have to do with all this? Tracey expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Jackson's therapists from the Sparks Center which is a part of the Civitan Research Center. Still Tracey does not complain or question the why of it all. Instead, her faith carries her through. So even though children born with RCDP rarely live as long as two years, between the doctor visits and constant care provided to Jackson, Tracey and the Ellis family from Centre have started a website dedicated to Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata, called http://www.rhizokids.com/. Please visit the site for more information and show your support by purchasing one of the nice cookbooks that Tracey sells. |
