João is Brazilian, but born in Yokohama, Japan. He was born on April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day. From birth, there were early signs that João’s development might be different, including a larger-than-expected head circumference.

As the months went by, João’s parents noticed differences in his motor development. He was hypotonic, and at 6 months old he couldn’t sit without support. After returning to Brazil, his family sought medical care and he began therapies, including physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.

João started walking at 1 year and 3 months, skipping crawling. Early on, he also needed support to get back up after a fall, a skill he learned around age 2. At 1 year and 11 months, João began attending a special education school, where he still goes today.

João is nonverbal, but he understands what people say to him. He especially loves watching videos and listening to music on YouTube.

At age 3, João had his first seizure. In total, he has had seven seizures, and he was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 6. João received his Primrose Syndrome diagnosis at age 3 as well. He also lives with allergies to milk and egg proteins, and to certain medications.

Right now, João is facing challenges gaining muscle mass. He is 1.70 meters tall and weighs 38 kilos. He eats very well and isn’t picky, so his family continues working closely with his care team to support his growth and strength.

Most importantly, João is deeply loved, and he knows it. His story is a reminder of the strength in our Primrose community, and why we keep building awareness, support, and research for every individual and family.