MOEBIUS SYNDROME IN THE NEWS
Read about little Cody, from the UK, and what his parents and others are trying to do for him--and others:
"CODY JAMES is clearly a happy little chap – but a rare condition means he will never smile or cry.
Nor will the 13-month-old frown or show any facial expression and he has to roll his eyes to keep them moist because he cannot blink.
Cody was born with Moebius syndrome, a rare condition that affects two in every million children.
His parents, Kim Eastwell and Talan James, of Helston, believed there were only 124 children with the condition in Britain.
It is present at birth affecting some cranial nerves, leaving sufferers unable to move their faces.
The left-hand side of Cody's body is also affected.
Clever
"He is so clever, and he is gorgeous," said Kim.
"My heart breaks that I will never see my son smile at me."
Now with the help of family and friends, the couple are embarking on a drive to help fund research into the condition.
Kim said: "The day we found out we were expecting a baby was the happiest day of our lives."
When Cody was born he did not scream or cry and, said Kim, she and Talan panicked.
Later he was placed in the neonatal unit. "All I could hear was the other babies crying, I cried myself to sleep that night," she added.
After a while Kim noticed his facial palsy was not improving, he was not supporting himself, or smiling.
It was not until the couple later saw an eye specialist – and after being told the problem was nerve damage which would repair itself – that Cody was diagnosed with the incurable syndrome.
"Cody doesn't sit up or crawl but he does roll and has one cheeky personality," said Kim.
Cheeky
"Even though he doesn't smile we all know he's happy with his dirty, cheeky little laugh. He's making so much progress, everything Cody does he has to work ten times harder for.
"At the end of the day you don't give up on your baby."
Now she and Talan are determined to help others by raising money for research.
Talan's employers, one2eleven at Flambards, and manager Kath Curnow have already raised money for Cody "and have done him proud". Other local businesses and individuals have also been helping.
On Saturday the Lizard Fundraising Fair near Kynance and signposted on the Helston to Lizard road, will be raising money for the Moebius Syndrome Foundation as well as Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust.
It runs from noon to 7pm and features music, a bar with real ales, felt-making and clay modelling workshops, and a mini-Lizard Olympics for children and adults."

But let me add this--yes, it is heartbreaking that Moebius Syndrome is incurable, and that Cody and others like him will never be able to smile.  But remember--Cody has a bright future ahead of him, and he can have a great life and accomplish a lot.

How do one know this?  All we have to do is to look at the community of persons all around the world with Moebius, who are now able to easily link up via social media and share their experiences.  And look at all they have accomplished.  Cody can do it, too.


“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray."--Jalal ad-Din   Rumi (1207-1273)