On a bright day in mid-2009, I covered my son Brady, then 3, from head to toe and tucked him deeply in my arms. We rushed into a new doctor’s office — our potential diagnostic superhero — to discover what was causing my son’s horrific pain. Having been to countless…
Hope in Action — Kristen Wheeden

Life changed for Kristen Wheeden when her youngest son, Brady, was diagnosed with erythropoietic protoporphyria in 2009. Kristen set out to learn as much as she could from both patients and doctors about porphyria. She has great hope for improved quality of life for patients living with porphyria, yet firmly believes that hope is ineffective without action. That is her motivation to act as a fierce advocate for porphyria patients and families and to support critical research. Hailing from Bethesda, Maryland, she enjoys life with her husband, three sons, and two dogs. Kristen serves as the president of the United Porphyrias Association.
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