Patricia lovingly captured moments with her son, but when she shared his photos with friends, she was in for a surprise. Patricia welcomed her son Redd into the world in 2012, but it wasn’t until he was two months old that she noticed something unusual about him – his white hair.
When Dale looked into why their baby’s eyes were moving rapidly from side to side, he uncovered something startling: it was a common sign of albinism. Patricia was skeptical because she wasn’t familiar with the term, but their son displayed classic symptoms, including extremely pale skin, white hair, and eye movements.
Seeking confirmation, they consulted with an optician and geneticist. The diagnosis of Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 1 (OCA1), affecting 1 in 17,000 people worldwide, was confirmed for Redd.
Patricia recalls the hospital staff’s curiosity at Redd’s birth due to his distinctive white hair and blue eyes. With both Patricia and Dale having blonde hair, they initially didn’t think much of it.
Redd’s hair shimmered white in the sunlight, Patricia recalled about a month after they brought him home. Despite her attempts to shield herself from his gaze, he continued to track her every move.
His eyes, a striking shade of blue that bordered on red in certain lights, captivated her.
When Patricia’s second son was born with the same condition, she knew it would be something they would navigate for the rest of their lives. Rockwell, born in February 2018, shared his older sibling’s challenge. Unfortunately, their family faced hurtful jokes and taunts, even on social media where strangers misused photos of Rockwell.
Redd had experienced bullying at school due to his appearance, leading his older brother Gage to become protective. Though Patricia and Dale had researched albinism extensively before Rockwell’s birth, they were unprepared for the viral spread of their son’s photos online.
Initially, they tried reaching out to those who shared the images, asking them to remove them. However, they soon realized the task was impossible. Determined to prevent future bullying, they became advocates for albinism awareness.
The confirmation of Redd’s albinism diagnosis devastated Patricia.
Patricia’s concerns about Rockwell’s susceptibility to sunburns and potential legal blindness weighed heavily on her mind, affecting both the child’s future and their family dynamics.
She addressed the attention around Rockwell, noting, “It’s very unusual to see a baby with white hair, and Rockwell’s hair sticks straight up, so it’s very noticeable.”
As a meme featuring her son went viral, Patricia gained a significant following. With increasing inquiries about her son’s appearance, she recognized a widespread lack of awareness about albinism.
Realizing that her knowledge of albinism was limited to underrepresented portrayals in films, Patricia saw an opportunity to raise public awareness about the condition.
After undergoing strabismus surgery, Redd transitioned from a specialized private school for the visually impaired to a regular public school, a decision that proved beneficial for him and his family.
Opting for surgery over an eye patch to correct his condition, Redd’s ‘differences’ became less conspicuous to his peers as he grew older.
Although Redd required protective gear like a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to play outdoors, he was otherwise just like any other child. Meanwhile, his younger brother Rockwell was also thriving.
On April 28th, 2023, Patricia shared a video of Rockwell participating in his school’s “Western Day,” which garnered an overwhelming response of support and admiration from online users, with many commenting on his cuteness and adorableness.
Patricia debunked the myth that individuals with albinism have red eyes, clarifying that their lack of eye pigmentation results in a bluish hue.
Today, the boys are thriving and happy, and their family is filled with joy and gratitude.