LAFAYETTE, La. ( KLFY ) — Hope 4 SOD was in Acadian Village Sunday night to spread awareness about the rare condition, septic optic dysplasia.
According to the organization, septic optic dysplasia is a rare condition that 1 in every 10,000 kids have in their lifetime. 14-year-old Lani Bertrand was diagnosed with SOD at a very young age. The condition is a congenital brain development disorder that can affect vision. Micah Bertrand, a member of Hope 4 SOD and Layne’s father, says she also was diagnosed with autism.
“It deals with the vision, so her vision is not there or very limited,” Bertrand said. “She’s also non-verbal and also autistic, and so those two combinations together for us to get help for her has been very very hard, and it’s rare to find help, which is why we have the nonprofit, so we’re raised with more awareness towards helping her future.”
Betrand says it has been tough finding medical assistance for Lani. However, he says now that he is involved with the organization, it has instilled a renewed sense of hope in him.