Finding My Peace with Sanfillipo — Emily Wallis

Last week, my mom and I attended a fundraising event for the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation. It was an opportunity for us to spread awareness about Sanfilippo syndrome — a rare, terminal disease that has no cure…

At 25 years old, thinking about my future is scary. It will be filled with many life changes and milestones. As a Sanfilippo sibling, my future will also be filled with devastating loss and grief. At 28, my…

While chatting with a friend recently, I found myself talking about my sister, Abby, and my fears regarding her future. Abby has Sanfilippo syndrome, often referred to as a childhood Alzheimer’s. At 27 years old, she’s lost…

Recently, my parents created a TikTok account dedicated to my sister, Abby, who has Sanfilippo syndrome. One video they shared had pictures of Abby and me at different ages. As I scrolled through the comments, I saw…

As a Sanfilippo sibling, I grew up with my sister, Abby, who is two and a half years older than me. We lived in the same house for about 20 years, so we made lots of memories together.

I have a job that I love. This is my third year teaching first grade, and it’s rewarding and challenging in so many ways. From day one, my students (or my “kiddos,” as I call them) learn that…

I’m a teacher, so the word “summer” invokes thoughts of relaxation and letting go of responsibilities. During summertime, many people take advantage of the time off and go on vacation with their families or do other fun activities.

I have always struggled with anxiety. I have also always been close to my family. When my sister, Abby, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome — a terminal illness with no cure — those two things teamed up to challenge…

Since I moved out of my parents’ house, I love coming home on the weekends. I get so excited driving home and thinking about spending much-needed time with my family. My sister, Abby, has Sanfilippo syndrome, a rare,…

The holidays can be a difficult time for me. My sister, Abby, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome four years ago, and since then, I find my heart pulled in two directions during the holiday season. On one hand,…

I received a package in the mail last week. It was a test that I will be able to take and send to a lab to find out if I am a carrier for Sanfilippo…