Why zebras?

In medicine, there is an old saying: "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." This means that usually, the common diagnosis is likely to be the correct one. For those of us in the rare disease community, that wasn't the case. Our symptoms (hoofbeats) were zebras, not horses.

It is only in the past year that DYNC1H1 disorders were commonly diagnosed within 1 year of symptom onset. It is still common for individuals to have multiple-year, multi-specialty, invasive testing prior to a diagnosis. Even with a diagnosis, there is no cure. We hope to change that. With your purchase, we can move research forward.

Why dandelions?

Dandelions represent tenacity, hope, joy, healing, and persistence. They represent the wish for DYNC1H1 patients for an easier future ahead.

Also, one of the founders of the DYNC1H1 Association thought that dynein, the protein that cells make from the instructions in the DYNC1H1 gene, looks kind of like a dandelion gone to seed. The protein dynein also has many, many jobs in the cell, so it's as common in cells as the dandelions in your front yard.

For more information on DYNC1H1 related disorders, visit www.dync1h1.org

All proceeds will go straight into research for DYNC1H1-associated neurological disorders, our way of caring for rare disease.