Natalie Shireen Nikzad

Natalie Shireen Nikzad

Natalie was a joyful and radiant child. When she was born, her doctors did not anticipate her living long. She defied this prognosis, and lived five very vibrant years with her loving family. Born to Jane and Arsalan, Natalie was the 5th of 9 children in the Nikzad...

Facial recognition zeroes in on genetic disorders

Dr. Olaf Bodamer wasn’t sure what was wrong with the 3-year-old boy he recently examined at Boston Children’s Hospital, but he had a hunch. The child’s muscle tone was weak, and he had taken longer than expected to start walking and talking. He also had unusual facial...

UK research on Cornelia de Lange Syndrome

The Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders is organized through the School of Psychology at the University of Birmingham. Their work focuses on difficulties experienced by children and adults who have intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and...
Showing Your Team Spirit

Showing Your Team Spirit

In March of 2017, the CdLS Foundation launched a t-shirt jersey campaign with the first-ever personalization option. Inspired by mom Samantha McClanahan, the Foundation collaborated with a local, independent printing shop in Lawrence, Kansas. After a two-week sale,...
Therapy Animals and CdLS

Therapy Animals and CdLS

Our friend Demetri was recently featured in Woman’s Day Magazine with his therapy horse, Sweet Pea. The two first met last year at an infant development center in Kansas. Demetri is deaf, nonverbal and legally blind, which are common characteristics of CdLS, but...