This malady is in news these days quite a bit because of the network TV story that showed the struggle of a Mom and her son who was afflicted with this.
Joel, a Thomas the Train lover and photography nut, was born with a rare genetic disorder called Treacher Collins syndrome that affects the bones in his head and face and forces him to breath and eat through surgically-inserted tubes. After the story ran Christina said they received more than 50 e-mails offering support, encouragement and assistance.
So what exactly is Treacher Collins syndrome. TCS is a rare genetic disorder characterized by craniofacial deformities. Treacher Collins syndrome is found in 1 in 10,000 births. The typical physical features include downward slanting eyes, a small lower jaw, and malformed or absent ears.
This condition is a result of a defect of the first arch during development.
People with the syndrome can undergo surgeries on the face to improve appearance, get hearing aids, and can also undergo surgery on a cleft palate.
