When Viana first walked through the doors of Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, she felt something she hadn’t in days: relief. Her son, Koa, had been diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a rare genetic disorder often called “brittle bone disease.” Before Koa was even born, doctors warned Viana that his chances of survival were low. “Almost every doctor I saw just gave me the same answer, that he wouldn’t live,” she shared. But Viana believed in her baby – and found a team at Nemours Children’s who believed in him, too. Now one year old, Koa is doing more than surviving, he’s thriving. Thanks to specialized OI care, bone-strengthening medications, and the compassionate support of his OI team including medical care and orthopaedic care, Koa is living a full and joyful life. Though OI can be life-threatening, new research from Nemours Children’s is shedding light on a more hopeful future for […]
