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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

A return to skiing. We heard about something amazing from Tess a week ago, and we had to see it for ourselves. Do we send this thing back, or what? 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 hits the slopes for another season with Maine Adaptive, her ninth year of skiing. Only this time she decides to make a massive change. When Tess lets you know what she wants, you'd better listen.  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 

The mud room. It's our point of departure when we leave our house. And in that room, post-Christmas, Tess unleashes a neat-o surprise. Tess knows.  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

Certain handheld objects give Tess a sense of peace. They keep her from getting bored. The wonderful world of fidgets. Where can I get more of these? 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

The phenotyping study begins for our girl in Germany. How does Miss Tess do? Wrapping up a three-part series about our recent trip. I share tips and tricks! #TravelingWithAutism Special shout-out to Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne, hosts of the great linguistics podcast Lingthusiasm, which totally saved me while I was in the hospital with Tess.  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 

We explore Heidelberg, getting some z's but not a lot. And we finally meet up with the scientist who knows more about Hao-Fountain than anyone else.  More about our recent trip to Germany for the USP7 phenotyping study. #TravelingWithAutism 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 takes her first voyage across the Atlantic. At long last, we begin our trip to Germany for the phenotyping study. Two words:  Jet. Lag.   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 

Germany, take two. Let's go see Dr. Schaaf. Let's try this again.   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

Evaluations. They're a huge part of our life with Tess. They aren't really fun.  If you're doing a questionnaire about your kid--to get services, Medicaid, IEP stuff--I'm with you.  Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 100 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

We have a birthday girl in the house. This week, Tess turns the big one-three. It's been quite a ride so far with this gal.  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 is such a talker. Not with words exactly, but a complex system of sounds and gestures. And one thing that can sometimes cause us a bit of concern is this:  when she clams up entirely.     What does it mean when Tess is quiet?    Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 100 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 call for help. A bat-signal in the night sky of life with a rare disease. One man sees the signal. And he answers.  Solving the toothbrush conundrum.  Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 100 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 is Tess's favorite item from the lavatory? Raise your hand if you think you know the answer. An update on life with our new puppy Penny.  Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 100 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 time once again for the great powwow among experts to work on Tess's education. I'm talking, of course, about her IEP.  We've been through this a few times now. It helps that we have a dream team. Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 100 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  

Gather round. I want to tell you a story about someone who really sees Tess. Tess's cousin is deeply interested in helping her.  Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 100 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

Apple picking. It's not just for people who need to get out of the house with their toddlers. A fun surprise in the pumpkin patch.  Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 100 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

Calendar invites. Rare parents get a lot of 'em. And we pretty much have to click yes every single time. Mindset is key.  Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 100 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

We've come a long way together, Tess Army. Stay tuned through the end of this ep for an incredible surprise from my main man Daniel DeFabio.  Stronger Every Day is sponsored by The Disorder Channel. It's dedicated to rare diseases and other types of disabilities. Over 100 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