Victor at age 1

Victor's Story

Victor at age 2

Victor is a happy little two-year-old. When he was born, he was a "floppy baby" with very poor muscle tone. Before he was diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome, Victor's weight went out of control, and he gained 22 pounds in 4 months. His obesity and his neurological disabilities have caused developmental delays, and at age 28 months, Victor has not yet taken his first steps. The added weight also interfered with his breathing, and Victor has been hospitalized several times with respiratory problems and requires oxygen at night. Since his diagnosis, Victor has been on a strictly monitored diet and his parents are striving to help him achieve a normal healthy wight. Victor will always struggle with a voracious appetite and a tendency to gain weight easily. His metabolism is only about 60% of normal, so he can eat only about half as much food as a normal child. The neurological aspects of Prader-Willi Syndrome will present struggles for Victor for the rest of his life. His family was relieved to get a diagnosis, but shed tears to discover that there is no cure for this disability. They are hoping that research will uncover a medical breakthrough to help ease Victor's struggles. (April 1996)