Moses Lake parents tell son's story to raise awareness

MOSES LAKE - Mason Valdez was about a month old when his mom and dad, Macela Crozer and Adrian Valdez noticed something was happening. Or rather, not happening.

"We noticed his body looked a little different," Macela said. He wasn't growing the way his brother had at the same age, and something seemed to be wrong with his feet, they were crooked. So they did some research, and took Mason to his doctor. His pediatrician sent them to specialists.

There are still some tests to go, but the preliminary diagnosis is Kniest dysplasia, a form of dwarfism. It's a rare form, about one case in 1 million births, according to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website.

"It's going to be a long journey," Adrian said. A complete diagnosis could take up to a year, Macela said.

And while it's a physical handicap, his mom and dad said they want to emphasize it's just a physical handicap, and that's all it is. "He's just like anyone else. I want people to know that," Macela said.

"Everybody loves Mason," she said.

In addition, October is National Dwarfism Awareness Month, and his parents want Mason's story to make people aware of dwarfism and its challenges.

Kniest dysplasia, and most kinds of dwarfism, do not affect the body's neurological systems, according to the children's hospital website.

Dwarfism in general is connected to genetic mutations, but in most cases Kniest dysplasia isn't inherited. "Just spontaneous," as in a spontaneous mutation, Macela said. "They say it can happen with any pregnancy."

The worst part about the diagnosis, Adrian said, was not knowing what could happen next. "We've been researching like crazy," said Mason's grandmother Lisa Hutchinson.

They learned people with Kniest dysplasia can have problems with their joints, and possibly develop arthritis. They can suffer from a curved spine and displaced hips. They're more prone to ear infection, and recurrent infections can affect hearing. People with the disease might develop vision problems. The disease can affect the windpipe and lead to respiratory issues.

But none of that has happened yet, and a lot of it might not happen. In the meantime Mason is a happy little guy with a big smile. "He's always so smiley," Adrian said.

There are treatments for the symptoms, but none for the disease itself. There are support groups, and both families have rallied around and been "super supportive," Lisa Hutchinson said.