In 2012, Patricia Williams gave birth to her son, Redd, who had white hair and unusual eye movements. After researching online, Patricia and her husband, Dale, discovered that Redd’s symptoms pointed to albinism, a rare genetic condition. They later confirmed through specialists that Redd had Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 1 (OCA1), which affects 1 in 17,000 people.
Patricia had noticed Redd’s striking white hair and blue eyes, but it wasn’t until his brother, Rockwell, was born with the same traits that they realized albinism would be a lifelong condition. When photos of Rockwell went viral and became memes, the family struggled with the public’s negative reaction and bullying. They decided to focus on advocacy, raising awareness to prevent bullying and educate people about albinism.
While dealing with online criticism, Patricia’s efforts to educate others grew. She realized that many people were unaware of albinism, which led her to use her platform to promote understanding. Redd also underwent eye surgery, which improved his condition, allowing him to transition to a public school. Through their experience, Patricia and her family became strong advocates for albinism awareness.
