Albino baby mocked for white hair is happy and healthy years later
A Mother’s Mission: Raising Awareness After Sons with Albinism Are Bullied and Meme-Shamed
Patricia Williams joyfully welcomed her son Redd in 2012, initially thinking his white hair and sparkling blue eyes were a family trait. But when she noticed his eyes moving side to side, further investigation led to a diagnosis of Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 1 (OCA1)—a rare genetic condition affecting 1 in 17,000 people globally.
Years later, her second son, Rockwell, was also born with albinism. While their family adapted and grew more educated, they faced an unexpected cruelty: Rockwell’s newborn images were stolen and turned into memes online. Devastated, Patricia and her husband tried removing the content, but quickly realized the better approach was awareness and advocacy.
Both boys have experienced bullying, but older brother Gage fiercely defended them. Redd underwent eye surgery to correct his vision, allowing him to thrive in a public school environment. Patricia, realizing how little people understood about albinism, began using social media to educate others and normalize the condition.
Now, both Redd and Rockwell are flourishing. A video of Rockwell from “Western Day” in 2023 went viral for all the right reasons, showing how far they’ve come—from targets of cruelty to symbols of acceptance and resilience.
Albinism
Albinism affects the production of melanin, the pigment that colours skin, hair and eyes. It’s a lifelong condition, but it does not get worse over time.
People with albinism have a reduced amount of melanin, or no melanin at all. This can affect their colouring and their eyesight.
People with albinism often have white or very light blonde hair, although some have brown or red hair. The exact colour depends on how much melanin their body produces.
Very pale skin that burns easily in the sun and does not usually tan is also typical of albinism.
Eye problems
The reduced amount of melanin can cause eye problems. This is because melanin is involved in the development of the retina, the thin layer of cells at the back of the eye.
Possible eye problems linked to albinism include:
- poor eyesight – either short-sightedness or long-sightedness, and low vision (sight loss that cannot be corrected)
- astigmatism – where the cornea (clear layer at the front of the eye) is not perfectly curved or the lens is an abnormal shape, causing blurred vision
- photophobia – where the eyes are sensitive to light
- nystagmus – where the eyes move involuntarily from side to side, causing reduced vision; you do not see the world as “wobbling” because your brain adapts to your eye movement
- squint – where the eyes point in different directions
Some young children with albinism may appear clumsy. This is because problems with their eyesight can make some movements difficult for them, such as picking up an object. This should improve as they get older.
Diagnosing albinism
Albinism is usually obvious from a baby’s appearance when they’re born. Your baby’s hair, skin and eyes may be examined to look for signs of missing pigment.
As albinism can cause a number of eye problems, your baby may be referred to an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for tests.
Electrodiagnostic testing is also sometimes used to help diagnose albinism. This is where small electrodes are stuck to the scalp to test the connections of the eyes to the part of the brain that controls vision.
Treatments for eye problems due to albinism
Although there’s no cure for the eye problems caused by albinism, there are a number of treatments, such as glasses and contact lenses, that can improve vision.
A child with albinism may also need extra help and support at school.
Glasses and contact lenses
As a child with albinism gets older, they’ll need regular eye tests, and it’s likely they’ll need to wear glasses or contact lenses to correct vision problems.