It is an understatement to say that motherhood often comes with a series of surprises. Many women discover a strong protective instinct that they never knew they had, and this is especially true when their children are born with unexpected conditions. Patricia Williams, the mother of four, has firsthand experience with the unpredictability of parenting. Two of her sons were born with albinism.
Instead of viewing the diagnosis as a setback, Patricia and her family decided to embrace their children’s uniqueness and celebrate it. She tells us more about their story, the confidence she has in her children, and her advice for other parents who may find themselves in a similar situation.
When her second son, Redd, was born, Patricia and her husband had no idea that he had albinism. They thought he had light hair. After they learned that they were both carriers of the gene, they knew that their babies had a 25% chance of being born with albinism. This made the birth of their last two sons even more exciting.
During Patricia’s labor, the doctor used a flashlight to get a look at Rockwell’s head, and her husband and two male associates were there. The doctor commented on Redd’s light hair, and Patricia’s husband said he was an albino. This was met with excitement and tears from her mother-in-law and her 91-year-old grandmother, who is also an albino.
In their first year with Redd, Patricia and her family quickly realized the amount of attention and questions they would receive. But they never let it get to them and instead chose to celebrate their children’s differences. Patricia advises other parents in her shoes to do the same and to never let anyone make them feel ashamed or inferior.
Patricia’s children are now growing up to be confident and proud individuals, and she couldn’t be prouder of them. Her message to other parents is to love and accept their children for who they are, and to celebrate their unique qualities and differences. With love and support, children with albinism can grow up to be happy and successful individuals.
