This episode is decaffeinated, much to our chagrin. And a small creature will make an appearance. 

ICYMI:  last week's episode, SED 441, "Tess's Power Plant," is available here.

New to the show and not sure where to begin? I gotcha. Check out the Top 5 Most Downloaded Episodes Ever.  

My blog about our life with Tess

More information about Hao-Fountain Syndrome or USP7

With five minutes before go time, Tess makes a move. And all hell breaks loose.

On the road with the lad. A special trip that I took this week.

Tess is ready to eat. I don't know what time it is, but that statement is true regardless of day or time.

Check out my blog post about Tess's diet:  "Here's what we feed Tess. Her diet seems to help with autism, intellectual disability, GI issues, and her speech disorder." 

Tess's hyperphagia makes an appearance at a birthday party. No zone or man-to-man defense can stop her.

Certain items have meaning for Tess. They are positively loaded with meaning, so much so that they're like full paragraphs for her.

Checking in with Tess and communication.  

You unfortunately hear from time to time about bullying in schools. But one thing you don't hear enough about are the anti-bullies. The people working, day after day, to prevent bullying. 

The Cromwell Center of Maine is doing super important work.  

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K 

I haven't done this in a while, but I am calling upon you, Tess Army. I need you to do something for me.

Help us get more patients. You can do it. 

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K

Tess isn't feeling well. This is highly unusual.

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K 

What happens if you go quiet for four years? Is speaking like riding a bike?

I spend a day with the fine folks at Charles River Labs. 

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K 

I take the two girls, Tess and Penny, to a dog park. It is one of Tess's least favorite locations in the greater Portland area. 

Ruff! Rough!

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K 

Let's talk about diagnosis day. Daniel made a new film about that day. It's a big day, really. 

It's a mix of joy and grief. 

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K 

Spring is in the air. I'm back from a trip, and I got some key USP7 updates for ya, including a check-in with Miss Tess. 

What does it mean to miss someone? 

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K 

In our house is a very large and extremely heavy object. Tess has found it utterly fascinating for most of her life. 

Tickling the ol' ivories. 

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K 

Tess heads to the eye doctor. For a lonnnnnng appointment.

How's this gonna go? 

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K

It's the end of an era. The final shift of someone who knows Tess and has helped her immeasurably. 

Nothing lasts forever, right? 

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K

A week has just been 86'd. A big, big change of plans in our house for Tess.

We've been through this before.

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K

B. It's the first letter of my first and last name. It's the name we all give to the plan that we pursue when the original plan isn't working out. And B also marks a new status for my partner Daniel and me, starting now. Hooray!

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K

Two fans and a laptop. Tess discovers a new musical genre. What's the verdict?

We explore Philadelphia-based band Remember Sports.

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K

I'm a year older. Blowing out the candles on this year's cake, what's on my mind?

Thanks to my wife, I was able to take some much needed time off. 

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K 

Let's hop into the car and head out, shall we? We're going on a shopping trip. Let's find Tess some new shoes.

Picture Tess in the shoe store. There's a deep calm about her. 

Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 200 film and video titles, including a few video versions of this podcast. Available for free right now on Roku and Amazon Fire TV. The Disorder Channel. The most rare stories in the world. https://www.thedisordercollection.com/

Are you on our Discord server RARE & RELATABLE? It's a 24/7 chatroom for people dealing with rare diseases and other types of disabilities. We even have a closed channel for Hao-Fountain / USP7 families. Click here to join: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K

Life with Tess can be pretty darn challenging sometimes. When things go south, there's one method we have that always makes everything better. It requires no equipment, it travels with us wherever we go, and it costs zero dollars.

Hayden Faith is Tess's Schaaf-Yang Syndrome sister. They even share a birthday! Hayden's folks Matt and Courtney Blickley have started a nonprofit to fund SYS research. Check out Faith for Hayden here:  https://faithforhayden.org/

So you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Hao-Fountain Syndrome. Now what?

It can definitely be overwhelming. But here are some resources. And some ways to get involved.  

If you or someone in your family has just been diagnosed with Hao-Fountain Syndrome or USP7, please join our private Facebook or Discord groups. Click below and then request to join the private group. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/969399453182041/

Discord: discord.gg/7UFUPAFs8K

To get connected to Dr. Schaaf, email Bo Bigelow here:  bo.bigelow@usp7.org

To join our registry, click here to get started:  https://usp7x.acrossmatrix.com/#/user-request

To donate to our biobank, email Bo Bigelow here:  bo.bigelow@usp7.org

Checks to our foundation should be made out to FOUNDATION FOR USP7 RELATED DISEASES and mailed here: 

FOUNDATION FOR USP7 RELATED DISEASES
11 Innkeepers Ln
Falmouth, ME  04105