Many people like taking photographs of their newborns and sharing them with others. Patricia Williams was no different. She shot cute images of her son with tremendous affection. However, when she attempted to share these photos with others, she received an unexpected surprise.

Patricia’s son, Redd, was born in 2012. The infant boy had white hair since birth, but it wasn’t until he was two months old that his mother noticed something unusual about him.
Patricia’s husband, Dale, decided to conduct a Google search to determine the cause of their son’s side-to-side eye movements. They were surprised to realize that it was a common symptom of albinism. Patricia had never heard of this ailment before, so she was first skeptical. Redd, on the other hand, had all of the classic symptoms of albinism, such as pale skin, white hair, and tracking eyes.
To obtain a formal diagnosis, the couple consulted with an optometrist and genetic specialists. The diagnosis showed that Redd had Oculocutaneous Albinism Type One (OCA1), a rare disorder that affects one in every 17,000 persons worldwide.
Patricia recalls the enthusiasm among the hospital personnel when Redd was delivered. Everyone was excited to see the infant with white hair and blue eyes. Patricia didn’t think much of it at the moment because she, her husband, and their firstborn son Gage all had blonde hair.
Patricia noted that Redd’s hair was very white and sparkling in the sunlight a month after he arrived home. Even when she tried to shield his eyes, he kept tracking items and never looked away. His eyes were similarly a brilliant blue, yet they appeared red in certain lights.
Patricia assumed that her son would eventually outgrow these distinguishing features. However, when her second son was born with the same characteristics, she understood they would have them for the rest of their lives.

In February 2018, Rockwell was born with the same problem as his older sibling. People on social media grabbed his infant photos and transformed them into derogatory memes.
Redd was also bullied at school due of his appearance, so his bigger brother Gage protected him. The family was aware of albinism and prepared for it, but they were not expecting Rockwell’s photos to become a trend.
Dale and Patricia originally attempted to persuade everyone to delete the image, but they recognized this was impossible. As a result, they decided to ignore the situation completely.

Patricia was devastated when specialists confirmed Redd’s albinism. In reaction, they decided to become champions, raising awareness about the condition and preventing children with albinism from being bullied because of their differences.
She was anxious about how the child would be treated as a result of their differences, as well as how their family dynamics would change with a child that may easily become sunburned and may be legally blind.
She clarified Rockwell’s major interest. She went on to say, “It’s very unusual to see a baby with white hair, and Rockwell’s hair sticks straight up, so it’s very noticeable.”
Her son’s photos went viral and became a popular meme, resulting in a big number of followers. Shortly after, she began receiving inquiries regarding her son’s looks, revealing that many people were ignorant of albinism.
She recognized that most people’s knowledge of albinism was based on a few movies with little representation. This made her realize she had a unique opportunity to spread awareness about albinism.
Redd got eye surgery to correct his strabismus and transferred from a private school for blind children to a public one. The surgery was an excellent decision for the family because it significantly improved Redd’s condition.
They chose surgery over Redd wearing an eye patch because it would have made him more visible and drew unwelcome attention. As Redd grew older, his friends began to notice his distinguishing characteristics less and less.
Redd need a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to play outside, but otherwise he was just like any other child. Rockwell, his younger brother, excelled as well.
On April 28, 2023, Patricia shared a video of Rockwell from his school’s “Western Day.” This time around, the young youngster received a lot of love and appreciation on social media. Many others referred to him as “adorable” and “cute.”
Patricia added that many people think people with albinism have red eyes, but they actually have light blue eyes due to a lack of pigment.
We are pleased for this wonderful family. Share this inspirational story with your Facebook friends. They certainly will.