No Parent Will Ever Fully Have Tay-Sachs Disease

No Parent Will Ever Fully Have Tay-Sachs Disease

No Parent Will Ever Fully Have Tay Sachs Disease. This is because a parent can only be a carrier of this disease. If each parent has the gene for Tay-Sachs and they pass it on to their baby, the disease will be fatal during childhood.

What is Tay-Sachs?

Tay-Sachs disease is a completely fatal disease that is both tragic for the child and the parent. In common terms, Tay-Sachs is a death sentence. The genetic disease attacks the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. The Mayo Clinic defines the symptoms as, “loss of motor skills, seizures, vision and hearing loss, cherry red spots in the eyes, muscle weakness and movement problems.” If you think your child may have any of these symptoms, please contact your pediatrician immediately.

Tay-Sachs can be detected in embryos during genetic testing. If both parents know they are carriers for Tay-Sachs they should seek genetic counseling if they wish. Groups who are at the highest risk of passing Tay-Sachs include Ashkenazi Jews from Easter and Central Europe, French Canadians, the Amish, and the Cajun peoples of Louisiana.

Tay-Sachs Support Groups

Support groups have been shown to make people feel less alone, and share their struggles with addiction, disease, and tragedy. There are support groups for the families and people with Tay-Sachs. The NTSAD is the National Tay-Sachs & Allied Diseases Association. They provide support for this genetic disorder. Support can be found in how to deal with day-to-day care, end of life decisions, and how to cope with all of the associated stress.

Final Thoughts

Have you ever known someone who had Tay-Sachs? Do you know of anyone who has a child with Tay-Sachs, or someone who is a carrier of the disease? If you would like to share your story, please comment below.