Life gave Katie a sharp setback when, 20 weeks pregnant, she was told something was wrong with the baby she expected. Although she was suggested to terminate the pregnancy, she and her partner decided to move on.
Harlow Jean was born in October 2016 with lissencephaly, a rare genetic disorder in which a baby's brain is smooth and does not develop folds, which affects neuronal function and mental development. While the condition cannot be cured or reversed, there are treatments that can help, but they are very expensive and Katie could not cope with them, so He decided to create a line of solidarity clothing to help meet his daughter's medical expenses.
In an effort to give Harlow and the medical attention he deserved, Katie began selling T-shirts on Etsy to earn extra money. The business grew and Hope for Harlow was born, an online store of t-shirts, sweatshirts and other accessories for babies, children and moms.
But it is not an ordinary store, it is more than that: It is a solidarity project. His earnings are not only intended to meet Harlow's medical expenses, but it has spread to other children with disabilities whose parents need extra financial support.
Recently, Katie launched a new line of solidarity clothing which consists of making shirts in honor of children with disabilities and giving 50 percent of the income to their respective families.
Facing the reality of his daughter was not easy for Katie, who since Harlow's birth confesses to having suffered a serious postpartum depression. By making her story known, she hopes to inspire and help other women who are also going through similar situations.
What is lissencephaly?
As we mentioned above lissencephaly literally means "smooth brain", in which the normal folds of this organ have not formed. It can be caused by intrauterine viral infections or viral infections in the fetus during the first trimester of pregnancy, by a poor supply of blood to the baby's brain in the early stages of pregnancy, or due to a genetic disorder.
Babies with this malformation usually have a unusual facial appearance, difficulty swallowing, lack of progress and severe psychomotor retardationThey may also have abnormalities in the hands, fingers, toes, muscle spasms and seizures.
Treatment depends on the severity of each case and the location of the brain malformations. Life expectancy varies according to the severity of the case. There are children who can have an almost normal development, while many die before 2 years of age.
