Question: Male, Newborn, Subtype Unknown How soon should a person who has been diagnosed with PWS start hormone therapy (specifically HGH)? Nurse Lynn’s Response: A child can be assessed for growth hormone treatment at any age. Clinical experience suggests that Growth Hormone treatment can be beneficial for an individual with PWS as early as 2-3...
Category: Blog
Volunteers of PWSA | USA
National Volunteer Week As we head into National Volunteer Week, we’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the many wonderful volunteers that help the PWS community through PWSA | USA. Our volunteers help us continue striving to meet the needs of families across the country and beyond. Many parents, grandparents, siblings, and other caregivers...
Ask Nurse Lynn: Supportive Grandparents
Question: Male, 11, Deletion My grandson has behavioral issues, and we try to help as much as possible when he is over. He is on medication, but his behavior seems worse at times. For instance, when he gets mad because he can’t get what he wants, especially in a store, will sit down and cry...
Invitation to Participate in Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Initiative
Additional Details from Soleno Therapeutics: Dear Members of the PWS Community, We are so grateful for your response to our recent letter requesting photos for an upcoming opportunity to raise awareness and understanding for the PWS community in Times Square on PWS Awareness Day. The number of beautiful photos and notes we’ve received has been...
Supporting Siblings
Contributed by Anne Fricke The quotes in this blog come from the transcript of an NPR Talk of the Nation broadcast, “Siblings with Special Needs Change Childhood”, that aired on Sept. 25, 2012. Don Meyer, the person quoted, is the founder of the Sibling Support Project. As the parent of a child with PWS, I...
Conversation with a Sibling
Transcript from an interview by Carrie Larsen, Director of Marketing and Communications for PWSA | USA with Leora Saacks, adult sibling to Andrea (living with PWS). Interview log: I’m Leora, I’m Andrea Saacks’ younger sister. Andrea is 2 years older than me; she has Prader-Willi syndrome, and we live in Philadelphia. I live about half...
Cruising with Grace
Contributed by Carrie Bell PWS Travel Tale When we first got Grace’s diagnosis, I remember thinking, “Well, I guess we’ll never be able to travel again. And we’ll DEFINITELY never cruise again.” Because let’s face it, cruises are synonymous with food. How wrong I was! Last month our family of nine flew from Kansas City...
Scholarship for Adults with Rare Diseases
This year, the #RAREis Scholarship Fund, in partnership with the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, will be awarding $5,000 scholarships to 88 adults (17+) living with a rare disease. Applications are open until April 22 at rarescholarship.org. The program was established in 2020 to enrich the lives of adults living with rare diseases by providing...
How Family Support Can Help Your Family
The first couple days, months, and years into a PWS diagnosis can be scary and overwhelming. Navigating a PWS diagnosis can come with a lot of fast and unpredictable changes. Our Family Support team is always here to offer HELP & HOPE. From your first days in the NICU to settling into life at home,...
Ask Nurse Lynn: Mentsruation and Hormone Support
Question Female, 15, Deletion: Do you happen to know of any standard of care as far as hormone support or instigating a menstrual cycle in females with PWS? Is there any harm in waiting to initiate a cycle? I know a lot of women and girls with PWS never start their period without medical intervention,...
Neurodiversity and Prader-Willi Syndrome
Neurodiversity, a term coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in the mid-1990s, is a social justice movement that seeks to bring awareness, equality, and inclusion to people of various neurological abilities. According to Harvard Medical School, “The word neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but it is often used in the context of...
Tips for First Time Sleep Studies
Contributed by Jennifer Andrews A diagnosis of PWS requires families to learn all sorts of new things, among them medical procedures we may not be familiar with. A fairly common one, the sleep study, can be a little daunting when you don’t know what to expect. Prader Willi Syndrome can manifest with a variety of...
How To Travel with Refrigerated Medication
Contributed by Anne Fricke There was a time when we thought the refrigeration needs of Freya’s growth hormone alone would hinder our travel and keep us home more than we desired. We love our home and enjoy being here, but traveling is an important aspect of life for my family. We have had to make some...
2025 International PWS Conference Announcement!
PWSA | USA is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR) and the International Prader-Willi Syndrome Organisation (IPWSO) to host United in Hope – an International PWS Conference to be held June 24-28, 2025 at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona! The conference theme, “United in Hope”...
Ask Nurse Lynn: Anxiety and SSRIs
Question: Female, 18, deletion, Arkansas: She has diabetes, one kidney does 25%, now even more increased anxiety. The first time we are trying anything for anxiety. The Dr is giving her Lexapro- the generic. Is there a certain one recommended? Also, is there a buildup or psychosis danger? Nurse Lynn’s Response: Thank you for your...
New PWS Clinical Study: Free Informational Webinar with Harmony Biosciences
Join PWSA | USA and the team from Harmony Biosciences on Tuesday, March 12th at 8:00 p.m. EST / 5:00 p.m. PST to learn more about the upcoming Phase 3 registrational TEMPO study, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, global clinical study that will further assess the safety and efficacy of pitolisant in patients with PWS,...
Nutrition in the PWS Family
Michael Tan, MS, RD, LDN, is a Dietitian who works with Dr. Jennifer Miller at the University of Florida Health. He spoke at PWSA | USA’s United in Hope Convention in June of 2023 and sees a large number of families in the PWS community. I reached out to Michael with some general questions about...
PWS Mom, Staff Member Melanie McDonald Spreads Awareness Through Local Library Donation
For Rare Disease Day 2024, PWS mom and PWSA | USA staff member Melanie McDonald wanted to take the opportunity to raise awareness right in her community of Jaffrey, New Hampshire. Melanie’s children, Henry (12) and Josephine (5 w/ PWS), love their town library and saw it as a great place for families to gather...
Ripple Effect: Advocacy in the PWS Community
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” —The Lorax, Dr. Seuss Contributed by Jennifer Andrews, Advocate and Mom to Josephine A reluctant, “OK.” That’s how I got involved in advocacy with PWSA. Pretty unexciting, isn’t it? Well, so is the first plop when you throw...
Gratitude for Caregivers on National Caregivers Day
National Caregivers Day, the third Friday in February (February 16th), was founded in 2015 by the Providers Association for Home Health and Hospice Agencies. This is a day to recognize caregivers of all types, family, professional, independent, private duty, and informal. We want to first express our gratitude, appreciation, and support for all caregivers. From...
Maintaining Goal Weight
Question: We have a 40 year old son. He’s 5’6” and weighs 140. In 2006 he was at his maximum weight of 170. That year he moved into a community living arrangement with 2 other PWS individuals. He lost 35 pounds and had maintained that weight until recently. We’ve had to move him from the...
Unlocking Potential: Harnessing Strengths to Transform Behavior Webinar
Here is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn valuable knowledge and skills to help assist their loved ones with PWS. On Tuesday, February 27, 5pm Pacific/ 8pm Eastern, Latham Center’s Director of PWS Services, Patrice Carroll, LICSW, will be leading a Family Support Webinar. This webinar will help to define the challenges that lead...
Advocacy in Action Heading to Rare Disease Week
February 29th, Rare Disease Day, is just around the corner! PWSA | USA and PWS advocates will be meeting in Washington, D.C. to make their voices heard at Rare Disease Week. To date, there are over 10,000 rare diseases, 95% of which are without FDA approved treatments. 70% of genetic rare diseases start in childhood...
Empowering Hope: Kayla Day’s Journey as a PWS Advocate
Meet our advocate, Kayla Day, mom to Luella, age 4 with PWS. Contributed by Kayla Day After having my daughter and receiving a late diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome, it took years before I could discuss it with others. In these 4 1/2 years, I have met amazing families and staff through PWSA | USA. The...