The Journey of Beautiful Destinations — Richard E. Poulin III

In a sea of more than 7,000 rare diseases, it is remarkable to have a day to call our own. In 2020, the AADC Family Network established AADC Deficiency Awareness Day, which is…

Our first Christmas Eve as a family was spent in a park. My wife, Judy, and I sat on a bench, trying to comprehend what was happening to our daughter, Rylae-Ann. In December 2018,…

Once we finally knew what our daughter, Rylae-Ann, had, we also learned that genetically, she wouldn’t be able to move. She would most likely be bedridden, and there was no treatment. However, when she…

Rylae-Ann was born by an emergency cesarean section. As Mom was stitched up and came off the anesthesia, I remained with a crying, screaming baby. As a new dad, I didn’t have a clue.

In September 2021, a post came across my Facebook news feed about a freelance writing position for AADC News. My wife, Judy, and I were still very much isolated due to our daughter’s condition,…

It may be an ill-formed sentence someone blurts or deliberate malice. Either way, any negativity expressed about our daughter, spoken or unspoken, goes straight to our hearts. My skin is thick, and I calculate…

Today, our daughter, Rylae-Ann, sits at a piano and explores the sounds she can make, then jumps off the stool and heads to the xylophone to grab a mallet, which makes the magical sounds…

After work a week ago, on a Monday, it was straight home. We grabbed our packed suitcases and headed for the airport. We arrived with an hour to spare, but then we had time…

At 5:30 a.m., I quietly sneak out of bed, wash, dress, and straighten my tie. As I finish getting myself ready, my wife and daughter wake up to start their morning routine. With kisses…

Once Singapore’s warm, tropical sun had set, a cool breeze became noticeable. With only the palm trees swaying above my head, I could think clearly. I used to reserve this time for high-intensity sports.

When I don’t know how to do something, I’m the type of person to go figure it out. YouTube has taught me skills ranging from fixing a leaky faucet to trail running. My wife…

Our daughter’s first three years of life were spent in a hospital. The first year involved diagnostic testing and fighting to thrive due to severe symptoms of aromatic l-amino acid…