HARLEM, Ga. (WJBF) – It’s a rare disease that brings life-threatening consequences–but the chances of catching it are even more slim.
Tucker Lewis is a four-and-a-half-year-old from Harlem, who was diagnosed with Sturge-Weber Syndrome at just two weeks old.
It’s a rare neurovascular disease that is characterized by a facial birthmark, known as a “port-wine birthmark”.
The birthmark indicates that patients with the disease are at high risk for strokes and seizures.
The Lewis family was shocked to see that Tucker had the disease, knowing there were no problems with the pregnancy.
“Sturge-Weber Syndrome is not something you can detect in the womb, it’s not picked up by ultrasounds. So when we had him, I had him by C-section, and they told me he had a bruise on his face, ” said his mother, Megan Lewis.
Lewis began to research, and she quickly realized this was no normal bruise.
The family also found out Tucker had glaucoma, which is another symptom of Sturge-Weber Syndrome.
He was diagnosed with S-W-S during his first glaucoma appointment at two weeks old.