22q Center coordinates multiple specialty services for patients

Dozens of families affected by 22q participated in the national “22q at the Zoo” day this spring at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park in Syracuse. Upstate Medical and Syracuse universities together formed the 22q Center, where families can be connected with the multitude of medical specialists their children will need.

It‘s almost as common as Down syndrome, yet 22q is not as readily recognized. The syndrome--previously known as velo-cardio-facial syndrome--is caused by a missing section, or deletion, of chromosome 22. It can affect every system in the body, leading to a range of health problems that may include:

Isabel Moore--pictured with her parents and brother, who live in Rome--had emergency heart surgery when she was 12 days old, before her family knew she had 22q. She worked with a speech pathologist and underwent physical and occupational therapy during preschool.

* heart defects,

* cleft palate,

* feeding and gastrointestinal difficulties,

* immune system deficits,

* growth delays,

* kidney problems,

* hearing loss,

* low calcium and other endocrine issues,

* cognitive, developmental or speech delays, and

* behavioral, emotional or psychiatric differences.

Ashlyn Ratliff, 11, of Brewerton was diagnosed with 22q this spring. She is pictured with her parents and sister.

22q occurs sporadically and usually is not inherited. Parents may learn their child is affected through genetic testing before or years after a child is born.

The 22q Center is a collaboration between Upstate Medical and Syracuse universities which connects families with a variety of medical specialists. Email [email protected] or call 1-315-464-6590 for details.

Dozens of families affected by 22q participated in the worldwide “22q at the Zoo” day this spring at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park in Syracuse.