Leukodystrophy Center Patient Stories

Natalie could walk, talk, and was ahead of all milestones for her age. Then, when she was 18 months old, her parents, Nicole and Patrick, noticed her lifting her big toes off the ground when she walked, as though she had a splinter or cut on the bottom of her foot.

Katie Grace’s balance and mobility issues were a mystery until a neurologic issue was identified as the cause. Whole genome sequencing through a clinical trial led by CHOP’s Leukodystrophy Center provided a clear diagnosis and a plan forward.

After years of searching, Chloe’s family found support at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where doctors identified the cause of her rare form of leukodystrophy.