Patricia’s husband, Dale, decided to search on Google to find out the reason behind their son’s side-to-side eye movements. To their surprise, they discovered that it was a common symptom associated with albinism. Patricia had never heard of this condition before, so she was initially doubtful. However, Redd had all the typical signs of albinism, including pale skin, white hair, and eyes that moved in a tracking motion.
To get an official diagnosis, the couple decided to consult with an optometrist and genetic specialists. The diagnosis confirmed that Redd had Oculocutaneous Albinism Type one (OCA1), a rare condition that affects 1 in 17,000 people worldwide.
Patricia remembered the excitement among the hospital staff when Redd was born. Everyone was eager to see the baby with white hair and blue eyes. However, Patricia didn’t think much of it at the time because both she and her husband, as well as their firstborn son Gage, had blonde hair.
A month after bringing Redd home, Patricia noticed that his hair was incredibly white, shining in the sunlight. Even when she tried to cover his eyes, he would still track objects and never look away. His eyes were also a striking shade of blue, sometimes appearing red in certain lights.
Patricia initially thought that her son would eventually outgrow these unique traits. However, when her second son was born with the same features, she realized that it was something they would have for life.
In February 2018, Rockwell was born with the same condition as his older brother. People on social media took his newborn pictures and turned them into mean memes.
Redd also faced bullying in school because of his appearance, so his older brother Gage protected him. The family was already aware of albinism and prepared for it, but they were not prepared for Rockwell’s pictures being turned into a meme.
Dale and Patricia initially tried to get everyone to delete the image, but they realized it was impossible. As a result, they chose to ignore the situation entirely.
Patricia was deeply saddened when professionals confirmed Redd’s albinism. In response, they made the decision to become advocates, raising awareness about the condition to prevent children with albinism from being bullied due to their differences.
She was concerned about how the child would be treated because of their differences, and how their family dynamics would change with a child who could easily get sunburned and might be legally blind.
Rockwell’s significant attention was clarified by her. She said, “It’s very unusual to see a baby with white hair, and Rockwell’s hair sticks straight up, so it’s very noticeable.”
After her son’s pictures went viral and became a popular meme, she gained a large number of followers. Shortly after, she began receiving inquiries about her son’s appearance, which made her realize that people were unaware of albinism.
She understood that most people’s knowledge about albinism was based on rare movies with minimal representation. This made her realize she had a special chance to raise awareness about albinism.
Redd had eye surgery to fix his strabismus and moved from a private school for blind kids to a public one. The surgery was a great choice for the family because it really improved Redd’s condition.
They chose to have the surgery instead of Redd wearing an eye patch because it would have made him more noticeable and attract unwanted attention. As Redd got older, his friends started to notice his unique qualities less and less.
Redd needed a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to play outside, but otherwise he was just like any other child. Rockwell, his little brother, thrived as well.
On April 28, 2023, Patricia posted a video of Rockwell during his school’s “Western Day.” This time, the young boy received an abundance of love and admiration on social media. Many people described him as “adorable” and “cute.”
Patricia clarified that many people mistakenly believe individuals with albinism have red eyes, but she pointed out that they actually have light blue eyes due to the lack of pigment.
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