Seven-Year-Old Kate Ferriggi Calls for Inclusion in Powerful Message on Rare Condition

A heartfelt post shared by Facebook page Kate: Writing My Story is shedding light on life with Tatton Brown Rahman Syndrome, a condition so rare it affects roughly one in seven million people worldwide.

Seven-year-old Kate Ferriggi, who lives with the syndrome, shared a powerful reflection highlighting that her journey has never simply been about a medical diagnosis — but about navigating a world that does not always recognise rare conditions.

In the post, Kate explains that resilience is often praised, yet it frequently begins where inclusion is missing. She speaks about classrooms where extra effort is required just to be understood, medical appointments where she finds herself explaining her own condition, and moments where assumptions are made before her abilities are truly seen.

Her words underline a crucial message: strength should not have to be built on exclusion.

Kate describes inclusion as creating environments where difference is expected rather than questioned, where support is embedded rather than granted as a favour, and where rare conditions are never treated as an afterthought.

Tatton Brown Rahman Syndrome is a genetic condition characterised by overgrowth and intellectual disability, among other features. Due to its rarity, awareness remains limited — something Kate is determined to help change.

“Rare does not mean isolated. Rare does not mean incapable. Rare means society has more to learn,” her message reads.

Through her platform, Kate is using her voice not only to raise awareness about Tatton Brown Rahman Syndrome, but to advocate for belonging, understanding, and intentional inclusion.

Her message serves as a reminder that behind every rare diagnosis is a person with strength, perspective, and a story worth hearing.

#MaltaDaily