Many parents enjoy taking pictures of their newborns and sharing them with loved ones, and Patricia Williams was no different. She lovingly captured sweet moments of her son and eagerly shared them. However, her attempt to showcase these precious images led to an unexpected and unpleasant surprise.

Read on to find out more…

In 2012, Patricia gave birth to her son, Redd. His white hair immediately drew attention, but it wasn’t until he was about two months old that Patricia noticed something unusual. Redd’s eyes moved side to side in an abnormal way, which concerned her. Curious, her husband Dale began researching online and found something that shocked them both.

These eye movements were a symptom of albinism, a condition neither of them had encountered before. Initially doubtful, Patricia soon realized Redd displayed all the typical signs of albinism—pale skin, white hair, and unusual eye movement.

To confirm their suspicions, they consulted an optometrist and genetic specialists. After a series of tests, Redd was officially diagnosed with Oculocutaneous Albinism Type One (OCA1), a rare genetic disorder affecting about 1 in 17,000 people worldwide.

Patricia remembered how excited the hospital staff had been at Redd’s birth. Everyone was eager to see the baby with white hair and striking blue eyes. At the time, Patricia didn’t think much of it. She, Dale, and their eldest son Gage all had blonde hair, so Redd’s light features didn’t seem too surprising. But when his hair gleamed almost blindingly white in the sunlight, Patricia sensed something was different. Despite covering his eyes from the bright light, Redd continued tracking objects with his distinctive blue eyes, which sometimes looked red in certain lighting.

Initially, Patricia thought Redd might outgrow these traits. But when her second son, Rockwell, was born in 2018 with the same white hair and blue eyes, it became clear that albinism was a permanent part of their family.

Sadly, social media didn’t respond kindly to Rockwell’s newborn photos. His images were cruelly turned into memes, adding to the family’s existing challenges. Redd had already faced bullying at school due to his appearance, but his older brother Gage had always defended him. When Rockwell’s pictures became a meme, Patricia and Dale were heartbroken. Although they initially tried to get the images removed, they soon realized the futility of the effort. Instead, they chose to rise above it and ignore the negativity.

Despite these hardships, Patricia and Dale became advocates for albinism awareness, hoping to spare other children the bullying their sons had endured. Patricia confessed her worries about how Redd and Rockwell might be treated because of their condition. Even simple outdoor activities required extra care—Redd needed hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect him from sunburn, and his vision issues meant he was likely legally blind.

However, life began improving. Redd underwent eye surgery to correct his strabismus, allowing him to move from a private school for the blind to a regular public school. The surgery was a huge success, greatly enhancing his condition and enabling him to live a more typical life. Though he still needed extra care outdoors, he was otherwise just like any other child.

In April 2023, Patricia posted a video of Rockwell participating in his school’s “Western Day,” and this time, the social media response was overwhelmingly positive. People filled the comments with love, calling him “adorable” and “cute,” a far cry from the harsh memes of the past. Patricia also used the moment to dispel a common myth about albinism—many people believe those with the condition have red eyes, but in reality, their eyes are light blue due to a lack of pigment.

Patricia and her family’s journey with albinism continues to inspire, raising awareness and fostering greater understanding of this rare condition.