Bardet-Biedl Syndrome and the Value of a Diagnosis

Patient Stories with Grey Genetics

Molly sensed that something was different with her son Joshua starting shortly after birth: he was a very fussy baby; his growth was off the charts. By 10-12 months, Molly had the full attention of her pediatrician; Josh was clearly not meeting milestones. She then spent over five years focused on finding a diagnosis. Their diagnostic odyssey included meeting with five geneticists before they finally traveled out of state for a full clinical trial just after the Covid-19 Pandemic hit. Just before his 6th birthday, Josh was diagnosed with Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS). Molly shares how she had to learn to respond to people’s comments about Joshua’s obesity as well as generic recommendations from uninformed healthcare providers about diet and exercise. For them, the pandemic offered a temporary refuge from the judgements of society and the stigma associated with obesity. She also shares how Josh's diagnosis has influenced his medical care and given her a new and powerful tool to respond to comments related to obesity.

Links and Resources

https://msha.ke/mollyedangelo/

Bardet Biedl Syndrome Foundation

Lead For Rare Obesity

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Molly on Instagram

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Molly on Twitter

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