This Thanksgiving, I’m expressing gratitude and hope for the future

As our family gathers around the table on Thanksgiving, I know we’ll once again take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and how many people have helped us reach this milestone. Gratitude will take on a deeper meaning for us, shaped by love, sacrifice, and the extraordinary journey that our daughter, Rylae-Ann, continues to lead us on.

When I think about gratitude, I know I’ll first give thanks to my parents, who’ve shown me the kind of strength that comes from quiet perseverance. I’ll remember the late nights from my childhood, my father working long hours, and my mother making sure we had everything we needed. They never asked for recognition. They gave what they could with love and as many opportunities as possible so that I could live the life I wanted.

Years later, when my wife, Judy, and I faced the uncertainty of our daughter’s aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency diagnosis, I realized how much of their example would carry us through. My parents remind me that love is not always loud. It often lives in the simple, steady act of never giving up.

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I will also give thanks to Judy’s parents, who’ve been our constant foundation. From the moment we shared Rylae-Ann’s diagnosis, they responded with faith and compassion instead of fear. They have been the calm in our storms, reminding us that family love knows no distance.

I vividly remember video calls with Judy’s mother as she cared for Rylae-Ann during her clinical trial in Taiwan, while Judy and I continued working in Singapore. Judy’s father, even today, ensures that our home, now in Bangkok, is always well-maintained and has all the amenities that a hotel can’t even match.

Their care reminds us that no matter how far we travel or how uncertain the road ahead may be, home is never far away when family is near.

Rylae-Ann and her extended family pose for a photo at Ancient City in Samut Prakan, Thailand, in December 2021. (Courtesy of Richard E. Poulin III)

A lifetime of appreciation for the doctors and researchers

This Thanksgiving, we’ll also extend our heartfelt thanks to the doctors and researchers whose tireless work continues to shape the future for children with AADC deficiency. They have turned what once felt like a hopeless diagnosis into a story filled with possibility.

I’ll think about the first time I met the medical team who helped us believe in Rylae-Ann’s future. They didn’t just speak about science. Instead, they talked about hope. Every follow-up, every update, and every act of compassion from these professionals will continue to remind us that behind every scientific breakthrough are people who care deeply. Their dedication will remain one of the greatest gifts we could ever receive.

Thanks to our daughter

Above all, I know we’ll give thanks for Rylae-Ann. She will always be the reason we celebrate with such full hearts. Her courage and spirit will continue to guide us and teach us what it truly means to be thankful.

I can already imagine her setting the table this year, carefully placing the forks and napkins, her face lighting up with pride. I know she’ll look around the room and say something simple yet profound, like, “I’m thankful for Mommy and Daddy.” When she does, we’ll pause to take it in. Words that we once feared might never come will once again remind us how far love and perseverance can carry a family.

Through Rylae-Ann, I know we’ll continue to learn that Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday, but a mindset and a way of living. It’ll be in the quiet mornings when she wakes up smiling, in Judy’s gentle encouragement during therapy, and in the small victories that fill our days with meaning. Gratitude will be present in every new step forward, in every shared laugh, and in every challenge overcome together.

As we look to the future, I know we’ll give thanks not just for the milestones, but also for the people who make them possible. We’ll thank the parents who raised us, the parents who stand beside us, the doctors and researchers who give us hope, and our daughter, who gives every single day its purpose.

Our Thanksgiving table may never be extravagant, but it’ll always be full of love, memories, and gratitude that grows stronger with each passing year.

Note: AADC News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of AADC News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency.