The 22q Family Foundation

14/10/2026

💙 I have 22q, and I love making people laugh 💙

Meet Mia! At 12 years old, Mia is a creative, energetic young lady who tries her best at everything she does. She might seem quiet when you first say hello, but once she feels at home, you'll get to experience her quick wit, warmth, and amazing one-liners!

Mia is an avid artist who loves spending her free time drawing, pampering her sweet pup Churro, and staying active through her school's volleyball and badminton teams! Whether she’s singing proudly with her school choir or stepping up to read aloud in assemblies at school and church, Mia is always eager to try new things alongside a circle of supportive friends who cheer her on every day.

Mia’s vibrant confidence today is especially worth celebrating because of the hurdles she tackled to get here. In her earliest years, she faced significant delays with feeding, growth, mobility and speech, along with frightening cluster seizures. At first, her parents were told that the seizures were normal and likely a "one-off," but they happened again five months later. At that point, she was put on seizure medication and monitored, but her parents continued to push for answers.

When she was four years old, a blood test finally showed that Mia had 22q11.2 DS. Like many in our community, her family's only knowledge of the condition came from Google at first. Soon, she was also diagnosed with selective mutism and a speech delay. Her family leaned heavily into community for support during that time and were even able to attend a 22q conference that summer! Her mom says that it gave them the roadmap, friendship, and hope her family needed.

Mia's journey is a reminder that 22q isn’t always visible on the surface, making persistence and fierce advocacy vital! Through it all, Mia has met every obstacle with steady determination, proving that growth happens one bold step at a time.

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Thank you to Mia's mom, Laurie Bennett, for telling us about your incredible daughter's journey so far!

👉 Interested in telling your story? Fill out our Faces of 22q form at https://forms.office.com/r/S4Ss1cx4eZ to help spread awareness and inspire others!

10/10/2026

💙🧠 How do you take care of your mental health?

This World Mental Health Day, we wanted to raise awareness about the mental health challenges that are more common with 22q Deletion Syndrome.

From routine screenings to connecting with behavioral specialists and building open family conversations, there are lots of tools to help navigate this journey with confidence. You don’t have to do it alone!

09/10/2026

Nine years ago... we were driving our 22q Mystery Bus up and down the California coast! We loved taking this bus, donated by the Dempster Foundation, for a spin 🌸🚌 Often, we would partner with the UC Davis MIND Institute to help support their annual 22q family events. It made an amazing backdrop!

The last pic shows our founding board members, Lindsey and Ryan Garcia and Katie Chiet, outside the 22q Mystery Bus!

07/10/2026

We are so deeply grateful to the entire Horseshoe Hammond team and their incredible guests! Contributions like this make a real difference in the 22q community, funding vital resources, programs, and opportunities to connect 💙

This week we were honored to present the 22Q Family Foundation with a $4,782.85 check! These donations were raised in August from our NRT guest donations & our Team Member Jeans for a Cause days. You can find out more about this amazing organization here: https://22qfamily.org/

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05/10/2026

💙 I have 22q, and my faith has carried me through the toughest times 💙

Meet Janet! Janet strives to do her best in everything she takes on. She taught herself to play the piano before even taking formal lessons, and she proudly graduated from college with an associate's degree!

Like many in our community, Janet wasn't diagnosed with 22q until she was 42 years old. It was low calcium levels that first tipped off her doctors. While she'd had low calcium levels her entire life, her medical team decided to dig deeper that year and run genetic testing. Sure enough, the tests revealed that she had 22q.

Looking back, she says that the diagnosis explains lots about her childhood.

Janet struggled with learning disabilities and ADD in school, but with the support of her parents and teachers, she pushed through.

Medically, Janet has faced hearing loss that required surgical intervention. While surgery helped at first, her hearing loss became severe again later in life. She manages it now by wearing hearing aids. Janet was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism connected to her low calcium levels.

Today, Janet has a full-time job as a Vendor Receiver that she absolutely loves. She leans on her faith to guide her through life's challenges.

Through her 22q journey, Janet has learned the importance of staying on top of testing and advocating for herself by asking questions and seeking help when she needs it. She's incredibly grateful to have a mom and sister who are both nurses, supporting her through her medical needs every step of the way.

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Thank you, Janet Eno, for sharing your story and your strength!

👉 Interested in telling your story? Fill out our Faces of 22q form at https://forms.office.com/r/S4Ss1cx4eZ to help spread awareness and inspire others!

03/10/2026

This month is all about different ways of communicating, and it's important to stay informed on the common ways that children with 22q may communicate differently in order to support them best.

Even though speech and language difficulties can be persistent, there’s real hope: with supports like AAC and speech therapy, children with 22q11.2 can absolutely build meaningful communication, social connection, and confidence.

Keep spreading awareness and advocating for the many ways that people communicate 💙

Information taken from "Linguistic profile in individuals with 22q11.2 syndrome: A systematic review." You can read the full study at https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949903826000047

29/09/2026

💙 I have 22q, and I know that no one is alone in this journey 💙

Meet Tatum from Montana! At 17 years old, Tatum is one of those people who just radiates positivity and compassion. She has a passion for animals, especially the ones in shelters. Her hobbies include horseback riding, dog agility, and even 4-H competitions!

Tatum was diagnosed with 22q11.2 DS at birth, and though it can be difficult at times, she is intentional about looking at it in a positive light.

"How I face it is I just keep moving forward," she says.

Tatum also wants to encourage others with 22q to keep trying, even when things get tough. In her experience, you can do anything you put your mind to.

She also adores her siblings, Grace and Blake, who have helped her a lot through her 22q journey. Knowing that she isn't alone on this path means a lot to her, and she hopes that others with 22q know the same.

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Thank you Tatum Willis, for providing such wonderful words of encouragement!
👉 Interested in telling your story? Fill out our Faces of 22q form at https://forms.office.com/r/S4Ss1cx4eZ to help spread awareness and inspire others!

26/09/2026

We had such a great time last weekend at Nationwide Children's Conference: A Healthy You and 22q! Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by our table 💙 We loved having the chance to connect with more of our community and chat about the ways our foundation can support your 22q journey!