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RETT SYNDROME AWARENESS AUSTRALIA
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AS WE RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR RETT SYNDROME RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA. Every little bit counts.
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Our Story
In 2009, our daughter Jovie was born in Sydney Australia, and our lives were changed forever. Little did we know the very different path we were about to embark on.
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It's a girl!
Welcoming Jovie into the world was an incredible time of our lives. Like with our son Jasper, my pregnancy and labour were a dream and we had our version of a perfect family.
For the first 6-8 months, there were no signs of any issues heading our way.
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The Regression
We noticed that Jovie was losing some skills like holding onto objects at around 10 months old, and hadn't yet said her first word. She learnt how to walk at 13 months, but couldn't clap her hands or point at things. At about 18 months, we couldn't ignore the obvious differences between Jovie and other children her age, and we set off to see our local GP.
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The Diagnosis
Our diagnosis of Rett Syndrome was official in June 2012, after completing all our tests and receiving confirmation from her DNA (specifically c.316C>T). It didn't come as a surprise to us, having already looked into Rett Syndrome, but the gravity of living a rare disorder effects Jovie and our family every day.
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Moving Forward
Team Jovie was created as a way for Jovie's family and friends to come together and raise both awareness of Rett Syndrome in our community, and raise the much needed funds towards Rett Syndrome Research in Australia.
We hope to teach people about Jovie and Rett Syndrome, and help researchers find a cure.
What is Rett Syndrome?
Rett syndrome is a rare but serious neurological disorder that affects about 1 in 9,000 girls in Australia. Even more rarely, boys may be affected.
Early development appears normal, however some time in the first 6 to 18 months of life, the normal pattern of childhood development does not progress.
In most cases there is a loss of communication and hand skills and the development of unusual hand movements, such as wringing, clapping and mouthing. Many children and adults with Rett Syndrome do not learn to sit up on their own, walk or talk.
Rett syndrome has been most often misdiagnosed as autism, cerebral palsy, or non-specific developmental delay
Rett syndrome is primarily caused by a sporadic mutation in the MECP2 gene on the X chromosome. The MECP2 gene makes a protein, also called MeCP2, believed to play a pivotal role in silencing, turning off or regulating the activity of other genes. The MECP2 mutation (change in the gene) causes the turn-off/regulatory mechanism to fail, allowing other genes to function abnormally. So, RTT is a genetic disorder of developmental arrest or failure of brain maturation.
Signs of Rett Syndrome
Some signs of Rett Syndrome can include -
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Loss of speech
Inconsolable crying and screaming fits
Sensory processing disorder
Gastrointestinal problems
Delayed or absent ability to walk
Seizures
Teething grinding
Breathing disturbances
Scoliosis
Poor head growth
Apraxia *
Sterotypical hand movements
Sleeping disturbances
Heart irregularities
Development appears to be normal in early infancy until the MeCP2-related regulation or control is needed. Without these controllers, selected regions of the brain do not develop properly. This explains why the child appears to be developing normally in the first months of life.
* Apraxia (dyspraxia), the inability (or reduced ability) to program the body to perform motor movements, is the most severely handicapping aspect of Rett Syndrome. It can interfere with every body movement, including eye gaze and speech, making it difficult for the girl with RS to do what she wants to do.
The Future
A cure for Rett Syndrome is being worked on and the gene has actually been reversed in a mouse in 2007. But there is still so much to do.
We are hopeful for a cure and we need your help to fund research in Australia.
AussieRett's main areas of research include the diagnosis of Rett Syndrome, Rett Syndrome in boys, Functional Abilities, Scoliosis, Epilepsy, Bone Health, Growth and other gastro-intestinal disorders and health services.
Click here to find out where your much appreciated donation goes.FUNDRAISERS & EVENTS
On November 4, 2012 - Team Jovie ran in the Run4Fun Sydney event and raised AU$2,265 thanks to your generous donations!
Our current team event is Jovie's Fearless Fourth Birthday Fundraiser. To celebrate Jovie's 4th birthday on May 21st 2013, our aim is to raise AU$2,000 towards Rett Syndrome Research in Australia and spread awareness about Rett Syndrome.
Research by AussieRett and InterRett will help to improve knowledge about Rett Syndrome, care for those with Rett Syndrome and contribute to the discovery of a cure for Rett Syndrome.
Every so often, we meet a new family that has been given the diagnosis of Rett Syndrome, and know nothing about the disorder. It's our aim to provide some information about Rett Syndrome to the community by telling our story.
Make a donationGET IN TOUCH
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Jovie's mum, Tracey, blogs over at sh1ft.org and her username on Instagram is traceytakesphotosSend Us A Message
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