strength in numbers

by Joy Orpen ©Independent.ie
Gretta Kieran Cullen is a very lucky little girl from Termonfeckin, near Drogheda. She is fortunate to have two incredibly supportive and loving parents and there is no doubt that, like most children, she will be given every opportunity to lead a fully productive, joyous life.
But, to achieve that, this baby, who was born in August 2008, will need a little more help than average, because she suffers from a rare illness that's known as septo-optic dysplasia (SOD), or de Morsier's Syndrome.
There is no known cause for the condition, and while symptoms may vary, they are caused by abnormalities present in the brain at birth.
As a result of SOD, Gretta is blind. In addition, her pituitary gland -- the gland that controls hormonal function -- is affected, and she has an uncommon form of diabetes: diabetes insipidus.
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