Many parents love showing adorable photos of their little ones to friends and family. This was also true for Patricia Williams.
She took photos of her son with tenderness. But when she tried to show her photo collection to her friends, she got an unpleasant surprise.
Keep reading to find out more…
Patricia gave birth to her son Redd in 2012. The little boy’s mother didn’t notice he had white hair until he was two months old, among other things.
When Dale looked into why their baby’s eyes were constantly moving from side to side, he discovered something shocking: It was a typical indicator of albinism.
Patricia was dubious because she had never heard of the term, but the boy certainly exhibited the symptoms of albinism, including extremely light skin, white hair and wandering eyes.
The couple then consulted an optician and a geneticist for a more definitive diagnosis.
Oculocutaneous albinism type 1 (OCA1), which affects one in 17,000 people worldwide, was confirmed as a diagnosis for Redd.
Patricia remembers the hospital staff’s excited anticipation when Redd was born because of his unusual white hair and blue eyes.
Patricia, her husband and their first son, Gage, all had blonde hair, so this didn’t surprise her.
Redd’s hair was so white it sparkled in the sun, she remembered a month after she brought him home.
Even though she tried to shield herself from his gaze, he continued to follow her.
His eyes were a striking shade of blue, bordering on red in certain illuminations.
When Patricia’s second son was born with the same problem, she knew it was something they would have to deal with throughout their lives.
Rockwell was born with the same problem as his older brother in February 2018. People on social media used stolen photographs of the newborn to create gruesome pranks.
Redd was also the target of teasing at school because of his appearance. Because of this, his older brother, Gage, started looking out for him.
However, because Rockwell’s parents had done extensive research on albinism before his birth, they were well prepared for his arrival. However, they weren’t prepared for their son’s photos to go viral online.
At first, Dale and Patricia tried to contact everyone who had shared the image to ask them to take it down, but they quickly realized that was an impossible task.
In an effort to prevent future bullying of children diagnosed with this disorder, they chose to become activists to raise awareness of the issue.
After doctors confirmed that Redd had albinism, Patricia was devastated.
She was concerned about the child’s susceptibility to the burn and possible legal blindness that could affect the child’s future and the family’s relationship.
She clarified the turmoil around Rockwell. His comment went something like this: “It’s very unusual to see a baby with white hair, and Rockwell’s hair stands straight up, so it’s very remarkable.” »
She gained a large fan base after a meme featuring her son circulated. Over time, she began to receive questions about her son’s appearance and realized that many people did not know about albinism.
What she knew about albinism came from underrepresented films, she realized. She realized this was her chance to raise awareness about albinism.
After undergoing strabismus surgery, Redd moved from a private school for the visually impaired to a regular public school. The surgery turned out to be a great choice for Redd and his loved ones.
Since having Redd wear an eye patch would have made it even more remarkable, the family decided to have it surgically corrected.
Now that Redd was older, his “differences” were less and less visible to his peers.
To play outside, Redd needed a hat, dark sunglasses, and sunscreen, but other than that, he was just like any other kid. And Rockwell, Redd’s younger brother, was doing very well.
On April 28, 2023, Patricia posted a video of Rockwell participating in his school’s “West Day.”
This time, the young boy received an outpouring of support and admiration from users online. The little boy received many compliments, including “cute” and “adorable.”
There is a common myth that people with albinism have red eyes, Patricia explained. She explained that their lack of eye pigmentation gives them a bluish tint to their eyes.
The boys are now thriving and happy! We are delighted to have such a beautiful family!
Please SHARE this article with family and friends!