To continue our rare disease month celebrations (leading up to rare disease day on Feb 29th, the rarest day in the year), in this episode we chat with Sarita Edwards who’s son Elijah has Trisomy 18. 

Sarita Edwards (she/her) is the CEO & President at the E.WE Foundation, a global healthcare advocacy organization for families living with Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome) and other rare diseases. Sarita's son Elijah was diagnosed in utero with Full Trisomy 18 which began her efforts of advocacy and public policy. Sarita is a 2021 world's top patient expert and social health ambassador. She is an award winning advocate, global speaker, and host of the Being Rare Podcast. Sarita is a legislative advocate providing insight on policy initiatives within her home state and across the country. Sarita has a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, a Masters in Healthcare Administration, and is a certified Mental Health Instructor. Sarita lives in North Alabama with her husband Kareem and their five children.

Exploring Trisomy 18:

- Sarita shares her personal journey and experiences upon learning that her son, Elijah, may have Trisomy 18, offering insights into her pregnancy and interactions with healthcare providers.

Challenging Misconceptions:

- Dispelling common misconceptions about Trisomy 18, Sarita sheds light on the realities and complexities of living with this condition.

Supporting Families:

- We delve into the challenges families face when caring for a child with Trisomy 18, exploring the vital role of organizations like the E.WE Foundation in providing support and resources.

Empowering Advocacy:

- Sarita discusses her introduction to the Trisomy 18 community, the inspiration behind founding the E.WE Foundation, and its evolution in supporting families worldwide.

Mission of the E.WE Foundation:

- Gain insights into the mission and goals of the E.WE Foundation, its commitment to supporting families living with Trisomy 18 and rare diseases, and the importance of raising awareness.

Advice and Guidance:

- Sarita offers heartfelt advice to parents navigating a diagnosis of Trisomy 18, drawing from her own experiences and journey with her son, Elijah.

Collaboration and Impact:

- Learn how the E.WE Foundation collaborates with healthcare professionals and organizations to enhance care and resources for individuals with Trisomy 18.

Future Hopes and Aspirations:

- Sarita shares her hopes for the future, envisioning advancements in awareness, research, and care for individuals with Trisomy 18.

We recommend listening to Episode #228 of DNA Today, highlighting the importance of continued education and awareness around Trisomy 18 and other rare diseases.Be sure to check out E.WE Foundation’s website for more info and resources. Keep your eye out for Kira’s guest appearance on Sarita Edwards’ podcast, Being Rare. 

The next episode of DNA Today will be an exciting announcement about a collaboration for a brand new podcast in the genetics research space, stay tuned for March 1st… 

New episodes are released every Friday. In the meantime, you can binge over 275 other episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, streaming on the website, or any other podcast player by searching, “DNA Today”. Episodes since 2021 are also recorded with video which you can watch on our YouTube channel, this includes some episodes recorded at NBC Universal Stamford Studios. 

DNA Today is hosted and produced by Kira Dineen. Our social media lead is Corinne Merlino. Our video lead is Amanda Andreoli. Our Outreach Intern is Sanya Tinaikar. Our Social Media Intern is Kajal Patel. And our logo Graphic Designer Ashlyn Enokian.