Microcephaly Awareness Day 2013

Today is Microcephaly awareness day! Every year, on September 30th, families all over the world gather together in support, to celebrate their children, and bring awareness to the issue that is Microcephaly. I'll admit, I had never heard of Microcephaly before Clara was diagnosed. But today, I have expanded my education and understanding of this issue, and others, that some children face on a daily basis. 

A little bit about Mircocephaly:

Microcephaly (my-kroh-SEF-uh-lee) is a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is significantly smaller than the heads of other children of the same age and sex. Sometimes detected at birth, microcephaly usually is the result of the brain developing abnormally in the womb or not growing as it should after birth. Microcephaly can be caused by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Children with microcephaly often have developmental issues. Generally there's no treatment for microcephaly, but early intervention may help enhance your child's development and improve quality of life. (source) 

Some children with microcephaly will be of normal intelligence and development, even though their heads will always be small for their age and sex. But depending on the cause and severity of the microcephaly, complications may include:

• Developmental delays, such as in speech and movement
• Difficulties with coordination and balance
• Dwarfism or short stature
• Facial distortions
• Hyperactivity
• Mental retardation
• Seizure

(source)

Just to give you some perspective on the numbers, at Clara's 15 month appt., her head was measuring 16.73 inches, which is in the 0 percentile. Her height and weight are measuring age appropriate. There is a big discrepancy between her rate of head growth and body growth. 

I encourage you to take a few minutes and do your part. Even if it's just reading this blog post and reflecting. Or reaching out to a family who you know might be struggling.

Oh, and sport something yellow for Clara today! 

(source)