Gene Sequencing Helps Twins With Rare Disorder Children thrived
after results found they had a subtype of disease requiring
different treatment By Jenifer Goodwin WEDNESDAY, June 15
(HealthDay News) -- Twins with a rare disorder that left one of
them unable to walk are now playing soccer and running track,
thanks in part to cutting-edge technology known as whole-genome
sequencing that enabled physicians to better treat the disorder.
Soon after Alexis and Noah Beery were born it was obvious to
their parents, Joe and Retta, that the twins were different from
their older brother, Zach. They cried nonstop, vomited
frequently, had poor muscle tone and missed their developmental
milestones. Looking for answers, Retta took them to dozens of
specialists who did blood draws and brain scans. Eventually,
physicians diagnosed the twins with cerebral palsy, which can be
caused by a lack of oxygen in the womb that injures the brain,
leading to movement difficulties, muscle weakness and tight,
constricted muscles or joints.