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December had only just begun when my wife, Judy, and I decided Santa should come early for our daughter, Rylae-Ann. Over the years, we’ve adapted holidays and events to make them more meaningful for our family, but this year we decided to try something new — and a bit challenging.

On Christmas Day in 2018, our lives changed forever when our daughter, Rylae-Ann, was diagnosed with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. My wife, Judy, wondered if she’d ever hold our hands and walk along the beach like we’d dreamed. Despite the dismal prognosis…

When our daughter, Rylae-Ann, was born with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, we were handed a long list of symptoms that felt more like a set of instructions on what she couldn’t do. It was devastating. Bubble baths were a fun bonding time for…

Thanksgiving is a cherished family holiday, and this year, we have so much good news to celebrate and be thankful for. However, in late October, we learned the sad news that our daughter’s grandpa had passed away. Tim Hergenroether was a proud U.S. Marine who served his country for more…

Six years ago, on Nov. 13, 2019, our daughter Rylae-Ann received a second chance at life. Every year since, we’ve celebrated it as her “Reborn Day,” when we reflect and remember how far she’s come. This year’s celebration, however, was an extraordinary moment of personal and national significance. When Rylae-Ann…

When my wife, Judy, became a certified special education teacher, we never imagined how crucial her expertise would become in our personal lives until our daughter, Rylae-Ann, was diagnosed with aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, a rare neurotransmitter disorder. Even with Judy’s background, we had a…

Our family’s approach to holidays and adventures centers on celebrating in ways that support our daughter, Rylae-Ann. Since her diagnosis of aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency, a rare genetic disorder affecting neurotransmitter production, my wife, Judy, and I have adapted our holidays to Rylae-Ann’s unique…

Raising our daughter, Rylae-Ann, has been an incredible journey full of lessons and challenges, requiring use to consistently reshape our expectations. With more than a decade of teaching experience, I thought I was prepared for the ups and downs of parenting, but nothing truly prepared me for raising a child…

Being a parent teaches many life lessons, but parenting a child with a rare disease like aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency has offered me even deeper insights into patience, resilience, and emotional balance. My daughter, Rylae-Ann, has taught me more than anyone else about not holding…

Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare genetic disorder that disrupts the production of neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin. That leads to severe developmental delays, weak muscle tone, and other complex challenges that are hard to imagine unless you’ve lived through them. For families like…