When baby Redd was born in 2012, his parents, Patricia and Dale Williams, were filled with joy. They couldn’t help but notice that their bundle of joy was different from most babies. Redd had stunning white hair, making him absolutely adorable. However, when Redd turned about two months old, his parents noticed that his eyes would constantly move side to side.
Concerned about his well-being, Patricia and Dale turned to the internet for answers. After researching Redd’s symptoms, they suspected that he might have albinism. To get a proper diagnosis, they made appointments with optometrists and genetic specialists. Their suspicions were confirmed – Redd had Oculocutaneous Albinism Type one (OCA1), a condition that affects about 1 in 17,000 people worldwide.
When Redd was born, the hospital staff couldn’t help but gush over his unique appearance. Patricia hoped that Redd’s white hair would darken over time, but his albinism diagnosis meant that his signature white hair and sparkling blue eyes were here to stay.
Then, in 2018, Patricia and Dale welcomed their second son, Rockwell, who was also born with albinism, just like his older brother. Unfortunately, both Redd and Rockwell faced challenging times at school, as their peers made fun of their looks. Despite their older brother Gage’s protective nature, the bullying continued to be a constant presence in their lives.
As a mother, Patricia did everything she could to teach her children to love and accept themselves for who they are. However, their journey took an upsetting turn when someone turned a photo of Rockwell into a meme after Patricia shared it on social media. Despite the parents’ efforts to have it taken down, the meme had already spread all over the internet.
Realizing that they couldn’t change what had happened, Patricia and Dale decided to ignore the incident and focus on not letting it affect their lives. Instead, they became advocates, seeking to raise awareness about albinism. Patricia gained a wide following on social media after Rockwell’s viral photo, leading to many questions about her sons. She realized that there were countless people out there who knew very little about albinism, with knowledge mostly coming from obscure movies without adequate representation.
Redd underwent eye surgery to correct his strabismus and transitioned from a private school for blind children to a public one. The surgery was a great decision for the family, as it greatly improved Redd’s wellbeing. They opted for surgery instead of having Redd wear eye patches because they didn’t want to draw even more attention to him and potentially worsen the bullying.
On April 28, 2023, Patricia shared a video clip of Rockwell on his school’s “Western Day.” This time, the little boy received a lot of love and appreciation on social media, a stark contrast to the times when he was subjected to hurtful name-calling.
Today, both Redd and Rockwell are thriving, thanks to the love and support of their family. Let’s spread awareness and embrace the beauty of diversity. Share this article with your friends and family on Facebook.
