Rare Disease 24 - Moebius Syndrome

From Wikipedia:

Möbius syndrome (also spelled Moebius) is an extremely rare congenital neurological disorder which is characterized by facial paralysis and the inability to move the eyes from side to side. Most people with Möbius syndrome are born with complete facial paralysis and cannot close their eyes or form facial expressions. Limb and chest wall abnormalities sometimes occur with the syndrome. People with Möbius syndrome have normal intelligence, although their lack of facial expression is sometimes incorrectly taken to be due to dullness or unfriendliness. It is named for Paul Julius Möbius, a neurologist who first described the syndrome in 1888.



Here is a video created by one individual who is affected by Moebius



The Moebius Syndrome Foundation has started an Awareness Day on January 24 each year.  Their logo is





Earlier this month, a California TV station reported on a doctor giving a child a smile (after the commercial)




Moebius Syndrome is just one of 7,000 rare diseases, most without cures and very few treatments.  Please see the rare disease facts at GlobalGenes.org and feel free to share this post with anyone and everyone.

Rare Disease Day is February 28, 2013.