Welcome to my corner! I was born Treacher Collins syndrome. Treacher Collins can be can be inherited or spontaneous. I'm the only person in my family to have TCS. If I have child someday, there is 50/50 chance of my syndrome being pass down to my child.

A person with Treacher Collins syndrome can be mild, severe, or moderate. TCS characteristics are usually underdevelopment of head and face.  It includes breathing and eating issues, speech delay or hearing loss. Some people with Treacher Collins have cleft palate or underdeveloped jaw. There is craniofacial surgery to rebuild underdeveloped parts, rebuilding ears, down slighting eyes. There is treatment to work on speech impairment, breathing etc. 

In my case, I have moderate Treacher Collins with moderate hearing loss. My speech always needs to be worked on. There have been lot of improvement over the years. I wear a bone conduction hearing aid (that explains the headband on my head); I feel naked without it. I have been wearing it ever since I was in diapers. My ear canals are closed.  That's why I wear specifically a bone conduction aid. It's wonderful when I go swimming so I don't get water in my ears. The last thing is I have an underdevelopment jaw so I don't have a straight profile. The advantage is I have big cheeks and it definitely shows when I smile.

If you have any questions or comments please email me. Thanks so much for taking the time to read about the syndrome I live with. Take care!  If you wish to email me, you can do so at megitect@gmail.com

My friend, Francis Smith, has TCS as well.

Taken at CCA retreat in June 2009 in Grapevine, TX.