tagged w/ Rare Disorders
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In fact, the 21-year-old from Austin, Texas, must eat every 15 minutes to stay healthy.
Miss Velasquez has a rare condition which prevents her from gaining weight even though she eats up to 60 small meals a day.
Despite consuming between 5,000 and 8,000 calories daily, the communications student, has never tipped over 4st 3lbs.
"I weigh myself regularly and if I gain even one pound I get really excited," said 5ft 2 ins Miss Velasquez, who wears size triple zero clothes.
"I eat every 15-20 minutes to keep my energy levels up.
"I eat small portions of crisps, sweets, chocolate, pizza, chicken, cake, doughnuts, ice cream, noodles and pop tarts all day long, so I get pretty upset when people accuse me of being anorexic."
She was born four weeks prematurely weighing just 2lb 10oz. Doctors found there was minimal amniotic fluid protecting her in the womb.
"They told us they had no idea how she could have survived," said Miss Velasquez's mother Rita, 45, a church secretary.
Doctors speculated Lizzie might have the genetic disorder De Barsy syndrome but soon ruled it out as it became clear she did not have learning difficulties.
"They kept on trying to figure out what was wrong with her but we treated her like any other child," said Mrs Velasquez, who charted her daughter's health in dozens of notebooks.
She was taken to see genetic experts but they still could not diagnose her.
Miss Velasquez's case has fascinated doctors all over the world and she is part of a genetic study run by Professor Abhimanyu Garg, MD, at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
Professor Garg and his team now believe Lizzie may have a form of Neonatal Progeroid Syndrome (NPS) which causes accelerated ageing, fat loss from the face and body, and tissue degeneration. People with PRS often have triangular and prematurely aged faces with a pointy nose.
He said: "I am aware of a small number of people that have similar conditions to Lizzie but each case is slightly different.
"We cannot predict what will happen to Lizzie in the future as the medical community are yet to document older people with NPS.
"However Lizzie is lucky to have healthy teeth, organs and bones so the outlook is good. We will continue to study her case and learn from her." Miss Velasquez has helped to write a book about her incredible experiences.
It is due to be released in September.In fact, the 21-year-old from Austin, Texas, must eat every 15 minutes to stay... more
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More than 60 parents of disabled children from across London came together for a landmark parent participation event.
Together for Disabled Children, a partnership between Contact a Family and Serco Education and Childrens Services, organised the event to support parent carers in their efforts to be involved in planning and developing disabled childrens services.
This video features Toby Price, Head of Sutton Disability Partnership for Children and Young People, who talked about the good practice model of parents working with the local authority in Sutton to improve services.More than 60 parents of disabled children from across London came together for a... more
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More than 60 parents of disabled children from across London came together for a landmark parent participation event.
Together for Disabled Children, a partnership between Contact a Family and Serco Education and Childrens Services, organised the event to support parent carers in their efforts to be involved in planning and developing disabled childrens services.
This video features Toby Price, Head of Sutton Disability Partnership for Children and Young People, who talked about the good practice model of parents working with the local authority in Sutton to improve services.More than 60 parents of disabled children from across London came together for a... more
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One of the things families with disabled children often most want to hear are parent stories from other families just like them. This video features honest accounts of parental experiences in raising a disabled child.One of the things families with disabled children often most want to hear are parent... more
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One of the things families with disabled children often most want to hear are parent stories from other families just like them. This video features honest accounts of parental experiences in raising a disabled child.One of the things families with disabled children often most want to hear are parent... more
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One of the things families with disabled children often most want to hear are parent stories from other families just like them. This video features honest accounts of parental experiences in raising a disabled child.One of the things families with disabled children often most want to hear are parent... more
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One of the things families with disabled children often most want to hear are parent stories from other families just like them. This video features honest accounts of parental experiences in raising a disabled child.One of the things families with disabled children often most want to hear are parent... more
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This short documentary takes us through the emotional experience of a family caring for their disabled 9 year old child.
Contact a Family is a UK-wide charity providing support, advice and information for families with disabled children.
For more videos from Contact a Family, visit our channel here:
http://uk.youtube.com/user/cafamily
Freephone Helpline: 0808 808 3555
Textphone: 0808 808 3556
Email us: helpline@cafamily.org.uk
Website: www.cafamily.org.ukThis short documentary takes us through the emotional experience of a family caring... more
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Ten-year old Alice was born with Sturge-Weber syndrome, a congenital disorder involving the brain, skin and eyes. This is the story of a family and their experiences in caring for a disabled child.
For more information on Sturge-Weber syndrome, please visit the Contact a Family directory: http://www.cafamily.org.uk/Direct/s63...
If you would like any information about specific conditions or rare disorders, you can access the Contact a Family Directory here:
http://www.cafamily.org.uk/dirworks.html
For more videos from Contact a Family, visit our channel here:
http://uk.youtube.com/user/cafamily
Freephone Helpline: 0808 808 3555
Textphone: 0808 808 3556
Email us: helpline@cafamily.org.uk Ten-year old Alice was born with Sturge-Weber syndrome, a congenital disorder... more
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Contact a Family are the only UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children no matter what their condition or disability.
This video shows Contact a Family Chief Executive Srabani Sen who talks about who we are and how we seek to help parents with disabled children in the UK.
For more videos from Contact a Family, visit our channel here:
http://uk.youtube.com/user/cafamily
Freephone Helpline: 0808 808 3555
Textphone: 0808 808 3556
Email us: helpline@cafamily.org.uk
Website: www.cafamily.org.ukContact a Family are the only UK-wide charity providing advice, information and... more
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Ten-year old Alice was born with Sturge-Weber syndrome, a congenital disorder involving the brain, skin and eyes. This is the story of a family and their experiences in caring for a disabled child.
For more information on Sturge-Weber syndrome, please visit the Contact a Family directory: http://www.cafamily.org.uk/Direct/s63.html
If you would like any information about specific conditions or rare disorders, you can access the Contact a Family Directory here:
http://www.cafamily.org.uk/dirworks.htmlTen-year old Alice was born with Sturge-Weber syndrome, a congenital disorder... more
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