Meet Mia. A three-and-a-half-year old little girl from a small town in Massachusetts. Severe dysphagia, microcephaly, laryngeal cleft, hip dysplasia, club feet, nystagmus, AND the ONLY person in the world missing the chromosome she is missing. Thriving day by day, and becoming an amazing independent little girl.

continue reading →

Meet Caterine Kamber. Caterine’s daughter, Aurelie Micah-Pearl, has been on a pureed food diet her whole life after being on a nasal feeding tube for her first year of life. Having Down syndrome and being a very sensitive being, Caterine has looked at the very best foods to support her health. Aurelie is now 16 and thrives with good health and vibrant energy. Caterine and her family believe in organic, nutritious, gluten free, clean food. Years of research on how to utilize nutrition for optimum health have lead them to the creation of a convenient, pre-packaged organic pureed meal that has given us peace of mind, social freedom and great health.

---

---

Caterine’s passion for supporting her daughter’s health and nutrition led her to develop Ceres – Sunny Puree, a whole meal pureed food, all organic, gluten free, paleo-friendly and vegan. The purees are ready to eat in just minutes, simply by adding hot or cold water. Visit Caterine’s website to learn more:

• 

• 

• 

---

---

Below are some videos that Caterine has created to share with the NFOSD community on how she is supporting her daughter and how she works to help others:

---

---

By Bryn Nelson. This is article was first published in March 2016 on mosaicscience.com. It is republished here under Creative Commons.

A visit to a dysphagia support group in Seattle to explore what life is like when you struggle to swallow.

continue reading →

“I’m sorry, but you have cancer.”

With those six jarring words, my life was suddenly divided into two stark contrasts: B.C. (before cancer) and A.C. (after cancer).  While on the phone with my otolaryngologist, who had just operated on me the day before, I fumbled for a piece of paper and a pen to write down the diagnosis. Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. I remember asking him to spell it. “A-D-E-N-O-I-D-C-Y-S-T-I-C.” A type of salivary gland cancer seemingly arising from my sinus cavity.

continue reading →

By John E. Ready

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

Growing up in the Sixties, I could croon, not well, but I still gave it my best. My aspirations consisted of singing along to the Beatles, Smokey Robinson and the Temptations, mostly in private. No need to scare people. I never dreamed that one day I would be known as one of the best singers in the world without vocal cords.

continue reading →