Haleigh & Aveahna

Haleigh-Ann is a beautiful 12-year-old who loves singing worship music, dancing, and art. She is
an honor roll student in the sixth grade and is a part of the school choir. She also plays flute in
the band. She is very determined, headstrong, and optimistic. She doesn’t let her disease define
her or her future. Aveahna is an adorable 10-year-old who loves animals and art. Her favorite thing to do is paint. She loves to pay it forward and make others smile. She’s in the fourth grade and enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Her faith is extremely important to her, especially with her battle against rare diseases.
~Krissy, Haleigh & Avee’s Mom

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of disorders that affect connective tissues supporting the
skin, bones, blood vessels, and many other organs and tissues. Defects in connective tissues
cause the signs and symptoms of these conditions, which range from mildly loose joints to life-threatening complications. There 13 types of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. An unusually large range of joint movement occurs in most forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and it is a hallmark feature of the hypermobile type. Infants and children with hypermobility often have weak muscle tone, which can delay the development of motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking. The loose joints are unstable and prone to dislocation and chronic pain.

Artist: Robert Francis Whelan