Many parents love capturing precious moments of their newborns and sharing them online. Patricia Williams was no different. She eagerly snapped pictures of her son, but when she tried to share them, she was met with an unexpected and unpleasant surprise.

The Discovery of a Rare Condition

In 2012, Patricia gave birth to her son, Redd. At first, nothing seemed unusual—he was a beautiful baby with striking white hair. However, it wasn’t until he was two months old that Patricia and her husband, Dale, began noticing other distinctive features.

Dale, curious about their son’s unusual eye movements, started researching and found that side-to-side eye movement is often associated with albinism. Patricia was skeptical at first, as she had never even heard of the condition. But when they examined Redd’s features—his pale skin, white hair, and eye-tracking difficulties—it became clear that he might have albinism.

Confirming the Diagnosis

To be certain, the couple sought medical advice from an optometrist and a geneticist. Their suspicions were confirmed—Redd was diagnosed with Oculocutaneous Albinism Type 1 (OCA1), a genetic condition that affects approximately 1 in 17,000 people worldwide.

Looking back, Patricia remembered how excited the hospital staff had been when Redd was born. Everyone was eager to see the baby with brilliant blue eyes and snow-white hair. Since Patricia, Dale, and their firstborn son, Gage, all had blonde hair, Redd’s striking appearance initially didn’t raise any concerns.

However, about a month after bringing him home, Patricia noticed just how luminous his hair was under the sunlight. She also observed that his eyes followed her movements differently than other babies. Additionally, his eyes appeared intensely blue and, under certain lighting, even shone red.

A Second Child with the Same Condition

Patricia initially believed that Redd’s traits might change as he grew older. But in February 2018, when she gave birth to her second son, Rockwell, she quickly realized that he, too, had albinism.

Unfortunately, with Rockwell’s arrival came another challenge. Patricia’s social media posts about her sons started gaining attention for the wrong reasons. Strangers online took photos of Rockwell and turned them into offensive memes. This was a heartbreaking experience for the family.

At school, Redd also faced bullying because of his unique appearance. His older brother, Gage, stepped in to protect him, acting as his guardian whenever trouble arose. Thankfully, when Rockwell was born, Patricia and Dale were better prepared for any challenges that might come their way. However, they had no idea that their younger son’s images would go viral online for reasons beyond their control.

Turning Adversity Into Advocacy

Realizing that it was impossible to remove all the shared images from the internet, Patricia and Dale made a crucial decision: instead of fighting a losing battle, they would use their platform to raise awareness about albinism and educate people. Their goal was to help prevent the bullying of children with disabilities by promoting acceptance and understanding.

Initially, Patricia had been heartbroken by Redd’s diagnosis. She worried about how life would treat a child who was highly sensitive to sunlight and might eventually face vision loss. How would their family dynamics change? Would Redd ever feel included?

However, over time, she began to see things differently. Rockwell’s presence further reinforced their mission. She realized that people’s curiosity was often rooted in a lack of awareness. “Seeing a baby with white hair is extremely rare,” Patricia explained. “And Rockwell’s hair sticks straight up, making him even more noticeable.”

As images of her sons spread online, Patricia’s social media following grew. People started asking questions about their condition, and she soon realized just how little most people knew about albinism. Much of the public’s understanding came from movies that often portrayed the condition inaccurately or failed to represent it altogether.

Recognizing this gap, Patricia embraced the opportunity to educate others and break misconceptions.

Overcoming Challenges and Thriving

Despite the hurdles, Redd has continued to thrive. He underwent eye surgery to correct his strabismus, which allowed him to transition from a specialized school for blind children to a public school. This decision proved beneficial, helping him adapt to a more inclusive environment.

One concern the family had was whether Redd should wear an eye patch, as it could make him stand out even more. Ultimately, they decided against it. Over time, as Redd grew older, his classmates began noticing his differences less and less. He blended in just like any other child.

Though he requires extra precautions—like wearing a hat, dark sunglasses, and sunscreen whenever he plays outside—Redd enjoys life just like any other kid. His younger brother, Rockwell, has also been thriving.

On April 28, 2023, Patricia posted a video of Rockwell participating in his school’s “Western Day.” This time, the internet reacted with kindness. People flooded the post with positive comments, calling Rockwell “adorable” and “cute.”

Addressing Misconceptions

One of the biggest myths Patricia has encountered is the belief that people with albinism have red eyes. She clarified that their eyes are actually colorless, which causes them to appear bright blue in most lighting.

Today, both Redd and Rockwell are happy, confident, and enjoying their childhood. With their mother’s advocacy, they’ve turned what was once a challenge into an opportunity to educate the world about albinism.

Through their journey, Patricia has learned a valuable lesson—differences don’t have to be a disadvantage. With love, support, and awareness, every child has the chance to shine in their own special way.