Many parents love capturing adorable photos of their newborns and sharing them with friends and family. Patricia Williams was one of them. She cherished the moments spent photographing her albino son, but when she decided to share those precious images, she encountered an unpleasant reaction.
In 2012, Patricia welcomed her son Redd into the world. He was born with striking white hair, but it wasn’t until he reached two months that his mother began to notice some unusual traits. His eyes would move back and forth, and when her husband Dale decided to search online for answers, they were confronted with a startling discovery: this was often linked to albinism.
Although Patricia had never encountered the term before and was initially doubtful, Redd exhibited all the signs of albinism, including light skin, white hair, and unusual eye movements.
The couple’s next move was to consult with an optometrist and genetic specialists for an official diagnosis. It was confirmed that Redd had Oculocutaneous Albinism Type one (OCA1), a rare condition affecting 1 in 17,000 people worldwide.
Patricia fondly remembered the joy of the hospital staff when Redd was born; everyone was eager to meet the baby with white hair and blue eyes. At that moment, Patricia didn’t think much of it, as she, her husband, and their firstborn son Gage all had blonde hair.
She reminisced about how, a month after bringing Redd home, she noticed his hair was so white it sparkled in the sunlight. Even when she tried to shield his eyes, they would follow her movements, and he never looked away. His eyes were such a bright blue that they would reflect red in certain lighting.
Patricia initially believed her son would eventually grow out of his traits, but it wasn’t until her second son was born with the same condition that she understood it was something he would carry for life.
In February 2018, Rockwell arrived with the same condition as his older brother. Unfortunately, his newborn photos were taken and turned into hurtful memes by people online.
Redd had faced bullying in school for his appearance, which made his older brother Gage very protective of him. When Rockwell was born, the family was already knowledgeable about albinism and felt prepared. However, they were unprepared for the cruel transformation of their little boy’s images into memes.
Initially, Dale and Patricia contacted everyone who shared the image, asking them to take it down, but they soon realized it was a futile effort and chose to ignore the situation instead.
They chose to advocate for awareness about the condition to help prevent bullying of children who are different. When Redd’s albinism was confirmed by doctors, Patricia felt very distressed. She worried about how her child would be treated in life due to their differences and how their family dynamics might change with a child who was sensitive to sunlight and could potentially be legally blind.
She shared the reason behind the attention Rockwell received, stating, ‘It’s quite rare to see a baby with white hair, and Rockwell’s hair stands up straight, making it very noticeable.’ After photos of her son went viral, she gained many followers and began receiving inquiries about his appearance, which made her realize that many people were unaware of albinism.
She understood that the public’s knowledge of albinism was largely shaped by obscure films with minimal representation, leading her to see a unique chance to raise awareness about the condition.
Redd underwent eye surgery to fix his strabismus and transitioned from a private school for visually impaired children to a public school. This surgery turned out to be a fantastic choice for the family, significantly benefiting Redd.
They chose the surgery instead of having Redd wear an eye patch, which would have drawn more attention to him. As Redd matured, his friends began to notice his ‘differences’ less and less. All they recognized was that Redd needed a hat, dark sunglasses, and sunscreen for outdoor play, but otherwise, he was just like any other child. Similarly, Redd’s younger brother Rockwell also thrived.
On April 28, 2023, Patricia posted a video of Rockwell during his school’s “Western Day.” This time, the little boy received an outpouring of love and admiration on social media, with many calling him “cute” and “adorable.” Patricia clarified a common myth that people with albinism have red eyes, explaining that they actually have light blue eyes due to a lack of pigment.
The boys are thriving and enjoying life to the fullest! We are thrilled for this amazing family. Please share this heartwarming story with your Facebook friends; they will definitely appreciate it!
