Saving Liv - a Column by Erin Stoop

A parent of a special needs child or someone who works in the public school system would undoubtedly be familiar with the letters IEP, which stand for Individualized Education Program. An IEP is a plan used to help ensure that a student with a disability receives accommodations, therapies, and goals…

I started seeing a therapist a few weeks ago. It’s something I’ve debated doing since my daughter, Liv, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome three and a half years ago. Many friends and family members mentioned that it would be a good idea, given the neurodegenerative and terminal nature of…

Many parents find feeding a toddler challenging, resulting in frustrating mealtimes. At this age, kids can be very picky and easily distracted. For our 5-year-old daughter, Liv, who has Sanfilippo syndrome, almost every meal is a struggle. As a nearly full-time stay-at-home mom, I tend to organize and prepare…

When our daughter, Olivia, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome three years ago at the age of 2, it felt like a dark cloud had settled over our family. During the week that followed, we took time off work and, through tears, shared the news with close family and friends,…

My 5-year-old daughter, Liv, has Sanfilippo syndrome, a form of childhood Alzheimer’s. In her current phase of the disease, she’s hyper, impulsive, and has no sense of danger. Cognitively, she’s akin to a 1 year old. That makes play dates and birthday parties a large challenge. Liv…

I used to be a career-driven woman. I graduated from pharmacy school in 2011, worked retail pharmacy for four years, then transitioned to a hospital setting and completed a post-graduation pharmacy residency. In 2019, when I became a mother eight years into my career, I envisioned myself as being a…

It wasn’t until I started sharing the story of my daughter, Liv, and her Sanfilippo syndrome on social media that I heard the phrase “glass child” for the first time. I’d posted about how special Liam, Liv’s brother, is. Someone commented on my post, reminding me to pay extra…

It’s been more than three years since our daughter, Liv, was diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome type B. And in that time, our family has raised close to half a million dollars — $452,000, to be exact — for the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation. This money goes toward research and support…

“I can’t wait to be out of the diaper phase,” I remember thinking as we prepared to potty train our daughter, Liv, when she turned 2. I think it’s natural for any parent to look forward to the next phase, even though the next phase always comes with a new…

“I think Liv has a lysosomal storage disorder,” the text message read. It was from a stranger — a pediatric neurologist and friend of my sister-in-law — who had seen a photo of our daughter, Liv, on Facebook. Liv was 2 at the time and had been through several tests…