MORE MOEBIUS HEROES

Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day is past, but I want to continue to draw attention to some of these terrific articles about persons with Moebius Syndrome, and their families that have been appearing for the past few days.  For example, here is a story about a young man named Harrison Lowry--all the way from Australia!  Note that as we so often see, doctors told Harrison's family that he may never be able to eat or speak.  They were proved wrong again.  Read on:

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THE challenges of starting kindergarten will be a piece of cake for Harrison Lowry.
The Kedron three-year-old, who suffers from Moebius Syndrome, has spent most of his life fighting to survive. He has had 12 operations and spent more than 20 weeks at the Mater.
In the past 12 months alone he has gained the ability to eat everything, drink and talk; and on Friday he will start at the C & K Wavell Heights Kindergarten.
Moebius Syndrome is an extremely rare congenital neurological disorder characterised by facial paralysis and an inability to move the eyes from side to side.
Other symptoms include respiratory problems, speech and swallowing disorders, visual impairment, sensory integration dysfunction, sleep disorders and weakness in the upper body.
Proud mum Therese Whybird said Harrison, now older brother to 14-month-old Ted, took everything in his stride.
Ms Whybird said Harrison, who now played doctor at home, had come along in leaps and bounds since having a submucous cleft repair in February last year.
"We were told he may never eat, drink or talk ... this was gut-wrenching," she said. "Thankfully we have a little fighter."
Within the first 24 hours of Harrison's life he was fitted with a nasopharyngeal tube to breathe and a nasal gastric tube to feed.
Ms Whybird said Harrison started to learn sign language at 12 months and by two had more than 200 signs.
"Harrison is an amazing, determined child ... we are so proud of our little man and the tough journey he has overcome," she said.
MOEBIUS SYNDROME
Harrison Lowry suffers with Moebius Syndrome, an extremely rare congenital neurological disorder characterised by facial paralysis and an inability to move the eyes from side to side. Other symptoms include respiratory problems, speech and visual impairment.

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