Patricia Williams, like many others, delighted in capturing newborn pictures of her son to share with loved ones. However, when she eagerly shared his photos, an unpleasant surprise awaited her.
Keep reading to know more…
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In 2012, Patricia welcomed her son Redd into the world. Although he was born with white hair, it was only when he reached two months old that his mother started noticing various distinctive features.
Redd’s eyes would move from side to side, prompting his father Dale to search online for an explanation. The revelation that followed was shocking—they discovered that this symptom was commonly associated with albinism. Despite being unfamiliar with the term, Patricia noticed that her son exhibited all the characteristics of albinism: pale skin, white hair, and eyes that tracked.
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To obtain an official diagnosis, the couple sought the guidance of optometrists and genetic specialists. Eventually, it was confirmed that Redd had Oculocutaneous Albinism Type one (OCA1), a rare condition affecting approximately 1 in 17,000 people worldwide.
When Redd was born, Patricia vividly remembered the excitement among hospital staff who eagerly gathered to catch a glimpse of the baby with white hair and blue eyes. Surprisingly, Patricia didn’t think much of it at the time, as she, her husband, and their firstborn son, Gage, all had blonde hair.
However, about a month after bringing Redd home, Patricia noticed something remarkable—his hair was incredibly white, glistening in the sunlight. Even when she tried to block his vision, his eyes would track and not deviate. Moreover, his eyes possessed a striking blue hue that would sometimes appear reddish under certain lighting conditions.
Initially, Patricia assumed these traits would fade over time, but her certainty waned when her second son was also born with the same condition. It became evident to her that these unique characteristics were not transient but would accompany her sons throughout their lives.
In February 2018, Rockwell entered the world with the same condition as his older brother. Sadly, the newborn images of this little boy fell victim to heartless individuals on social media, who transformed them into cruel memes.
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Redd had already endured bullying at school, where his peers mocked him for his distinct appearance. This led his older brother Gage to become fiercely protective of him. With Rockwell’s birth, the family was already well-informed about albinism and had made necessary preparations. However, they were not prepared for the distressing turn of events involving their youngest son’s pictures being turned into memes.
Dale and Patricia initially attempted to contact everyone who had shared the image, asking them to delete it. However, they soon realized the futility of this endeavor and made the decision to ignore the situation altogether.
Instead, they chose to become advocates for raising awareness about the condition, aiming to prevent children with albinism from experiencing bullying due to their differences. When Redd’s diagnosis of albinism was confirmed by professionals, Patricia experienced deep distress.
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She worried about how her child would be treated throughout his life, given the challenges of being visually impaired and susceptible to sunburn. Patricia expressed her concerns, saying, “It’s unsettling to stand out so much as a baby with white hair, and Rockwell’s hair standing straight up makes him even more noticeable.”
Following the viral meme incident involving her son, Patricia’s social media following grew significantly. As a result, she began receiving numerous inquiries about the reason behind her son’s appearance. It became evident to her that there was a lack of awareness and understanding about albinism.
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Realizing that people’s knowledge of albinism stemmed mainly from obscure movies with limited representation, Patricia recognized a unique opportunity to educate and raise awareness about the condition.
Redd underwent eye surgery to correct his strabismus and transitioned from a specialized school for visually impaired children to a public school. The decision to pursue surgery proved to be beneficial for the family, greatly improving Redd’s condition.
Instead of opting for an eye patch, which would have further made him stand out and draw unwanted attention, they chose the surgery. As Redd grew older, his friends gradually became less fixated on his perceived “differences.”
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They simply knew that Redd needed to wear a hat, dark sunglasses, and sunscreen when playing outside. Apart from those minor adjustments, he could participate in activities and enjoy life just like any other child. Similarly, Rockwell, Redd’s little brother, thrived alongside him.
On April 28, 2023, Patricia delightedly shared a video clip of Rockwell participating in his school’s “Western Day” event. This time, the response on social media was filled with love and admiration for the little boy. People affectionately called him “cute” and “adorable.”
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In her post, Patricia took the opportunity to address a common misconception surrounding albinism—she explained that individuals with albinism typically have light blue eyes rather than red eyes, as their eyes lack pigment.
Both Redd and Rockwell are now thriving, enjoying their lives to the fullest extent possible!
