{"id":24801,"date":"2019-06-21T23:25:45","date_gmt":"2019-06-21T23:25:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tmc.edu\/news\/2019\/06\/rare-disorders-group-meets-in-houston-to-connect-patients-caregivers-and-medical-community\/"},"modified":"2019-08-28T16:10:45","modified_gmt":"2019-08-28T16:10:45","slug":"rare-disorders-group-meets-in-houston-to-connect-patients-caregivers-and-medical-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tmc.edu\/news\/2019\/06\/rare-disorders-group-meets-in-houston-to-connect-patients-caregivers-and-medical-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Rare disorders group meets in Houston to connect patients, caregivers and medical community"},"content":{"rendered":"
After her granddaughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, Deborah Skolaski assumed that her primary role as a grandmother would be to support Cori\u2019s parents in caregiving.<\/p>\n
But in expressing her research and organizing skills as an energy industry paralegal, the Missouri City resident has transformed into a powerful advocate for Texas patients and families managing uncommon illnesses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rare disease community needs a voice and I like to make a difference,\u201d said Skolaski, the lead Texas volunteer for the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)<\/a>.<\/p>\n Based in Danbury, Connecticut, NORD lands in Houston this weekend for its annual Living Rare, Living Stronger: NORD Patient and Family Forum<\/a>. The conference, from June 21 to June 23, connects patients and caregivers with medical professionals for a weekend of learning.<\/p>\n The meeting also features an annual Rare Impact Awards ceremony to honor those who make extraordinary contributions to the lives of rare disease patients and caregivers. Houston-area honorees at this year\u2019s event<\/a>, scheduled for Saturday, June 22 at Space Center Houston, include Skolaski<\/a>, U.S. Representative Michael McCaul and State Representative Sarah Davis.<\/p>\n NORD\u2019s national advisory board includes several clinicians and researchers from Baylor College of Medicine.<\/p>\n Between 25 and 30 million people in the United States are living with rare diseases\u2014and more than half are children, according to NORD.<\/p>\n Cori, who turns 8 this year, is one of them.<\/p>\n