Facial Paralysis Awareness: Moebius Syndrome Foundation · Smile Surgery Donations · #MSAD2020 (Jan 24) · Other Conditions
The Many Faces Of Moebius Syndrome, Moebius Syndrome Foundation, Moebius Syndrome Research Trust, and Children’s Craniofacial Association are proud to announce the 10th annual Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day which will be celebrated worldwide on Friday the 24th of January, 2020 — the birth date of doctor Paul Julius Moebius, who first diagnosed the disorder in 1888.
Moebius Syndrome is characterized by facial paralysis: most people can’t close their eyes or show facial expressions. Additional symptoms can include lack of hands or arms, respiratory impairment, speech and swallowing disorders, visual impairment, sensory integration dysfunction, sleep disorders and weak upper body strength.
Family, and the importance thereof in the lives of individuals who have Moebius syndrome, is the focus of this year’s Awareness Day. “It is a tribute to the many families around the world who are often the unsung heroes of our lives,” says Tim Smith, President of the Many Faces of Moebius Syndrome, who himself has the condition. “There is no substitute for a loving, supportive family, whether that family is biological or our worldwide Moebius Family,” agrees Vicki McCarrell, a former president of the Moebius Syndrome Foundation.
We encourage you to visit our Web sites to educate yourself and others about Moebius Syndrome and other forms of facial paralysis, and proudly wear and post purple on January 24. We appreciate your support and look forward to the biggest Moebius Syndrome Awareness Day (#MSAD2020) ever!
Moebius Syndrome is an extremely rare congenital neurological disorder with approximately 20,000 cases worldwide. Every year, around 40,000 Americans experience sudden facial paralysis due to Bell’s Palsy, named after Scottish anatomist Charles Bell. It causes inflammation of the facial nerve, which commonly causes the muscles on one side of the face to droop. The good news is that most people with Bell’s palsy can recover completely in about six months.