GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In a recent proclamation, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared October 5 as Peroxisomal Awareness Day.
For Christopher and Katina Rees, that proclamation is a huge step in the direction of raising awareness for a disorder that affects less than 1,000 children worldwide — but, nonetheless, one they know very well.
In July of 2018, the Rees family had a daughter named Keely. Shortly after her birth, Keely was diagnosed with Peroxisomal Biogenesis Disorder – Zellweger Spectrum Disorder, or PBD-ZSD.
PBD is an incredibly rare disorder that is generally a fatal diagnosis. In Keely’s case, she suffered from seizures and could not sit or hold her head up, among several other complications.