Name

A baby Alpaca is called a Cria, A baby Badger is called a Kit, A baby Grasshopper is a Nymph, and a Baby Ox is called a Stot. What does one call these ridiculously cute guys? Platypus. Yup, that’s is. There is no name for the baby version of the Platypus.

 

They do exist though. They certainly are capable of causing one to feel happy (heck I want to adopt one). If we saw one being abused or killed we would respond with alarm and disgust. Just because something doesn’t have an officially designated name does not mean it is not important, that it does not exist, or that you are crazy for thinking about it.

Every day people all over this world are diagnosed with diseases that have no category in which they can be placed. Erdheim Chester Disease for instance is not defined as cancer or as an autoimmune disorder (even though it carries characteristics of both). So when people ask us what we have we say ECD…but its hard to describe after that.

Names help us categorize things. Names help us group things. Names help us figure out where we belong. I pray every day that soon ECD and all other un slated rare diseases will be given the power of a name. Not just the name of the disease but the name of the family in which their disease belongs, because when one has a family one has understanding, direction, and support.