Rare Disease Day: Handprints across America

Brayden, 4 months old, from Ohio has ABCA-3 Surfactant Deficiency.

The severe, rare respiratory disease is caused by a genetic mutation in the ABCA-3 gene. This gene is involved in the production of surfactant, a mixture of certain fats and proteins that line the lungs' tissue to aid breathing. The lungs then fill with air on each breath, making breathing difficult and impairing oxygen delivery throughout the body. Some children with the disease may require a lung transplant.

Credit: National Organization for Rare Disorders