And then, Adelyn was born, and she was very unhealthy.
“When she took her first breath, her whole chest cavity collapsed. She was blue in color. Her limbs were going the wrong way. It was really terrifying,” said Adelyn’s father, Joe.
Adelyn’s doctor took X-rays, which came back showing limited bone growth, or, as Joe says, it was “similar to a jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces missing.”
Adelyn’s doctors thought she could have osteogenesis imperfecta, a type of dwarfism, or hypophosphatasia (HPP). After several days involving many tests, including one that indicated her alkaline phosphatase level was zero, they determined that she had HPP, a rare, genetic, life-threatening metabolic condition that prevents minerals such as calcium and phosphate from being properly deposited in bones.1-3
Joe and Jennie were told that there were no approved treatment options but that there was a clinical trial involving an investigational medicine. Joe and Jennie didn’t have to think twice about enrolling Adelyn.
At 12 days old, Adelyn received her first treatment, and after a few months of continued investigational treatment, Adelyn was able to return home.
Adelyn transitioned out of the clinical trial and continues to receive treatment.
As Joe says, “When I hold Adelyn now, it’s like holding the sun—a ball of warmth. She just looks at you and warms your heart. I think, while I’m looking at her, that, ‘You’re amazing. You’re a miracle. You probably shouldn’t be with us, but here you sit, smiling hugely at me and making my life better each day.’”