Meet Landon

My name is Molly, and I’d like to introduce you to my son Landon. He is five years old, and we live in Texas.

The Diagnosis

Landon spent months in the NICU at Texas Children’s Hospital and had many appointments after we came home, but the doctors couldn’t give us a diagnosis. I didn’t stop searching for an answer. One day, while on Facebook, I came across a picture of a little girl who looked so much like Landon. I reached out to her mother, and she told me her daughter had Moebius Syndrome. That was the first time I had ever heard of it.

I immediately began reading everything I could find online and then contacted our neurologist. Soon after, we received Landon’s official diagnosis at six months old. I will always be grateful to that mother for being so kind and honest to a complete stranger. That moment brought both relief and nerves as we began to understand what Moebius would mean for our son.

Challenges and Triumphs

Landon has faced many challenges in his short life. From birth, he has had to work harder than most children just to achieve basic developmental skills. He worked so hard to learn how to eat and laugh. He spent years in physical therapy to learn how to walk. Even without speech, he has found his own ways to communicate.

He has been such a champ through surgeries, hospital stays, and endless doctor appointments. I honestly can’t pick just one achievement I’m most proud of, because he inspires me every single day with his determination and his sweet spirit.

Everyday Life

Landon goes to school most weekdays with a therapist who supports him and who he absolutely adores. He enjoys playing with his friends at school, and it brings me so much joy to watch how kind, patient, and understanding his classmates are with him. He even has a few close friends who will ask him for hugs—and he gladly gives them.

What Makes Him Happy

Landon LOVES swimming. He also enjoys spinning on his spinner, playing with mommy and daddy, doing puzzles, and watching Ms. Rachel on TV. He thinks his parents are hilarious most of the time, which makes us laugh too. And of course, he loves Chick-fil-A French fries and applesauce! (He definitely gets sad when we tell him he can’t have another applesauce.)

The Power of Community

When Landon was first diagnosed, I felt so overwhelmed. But the Moebius community helped ease my mind in ways I will never forget. Moms shared stories and pictures of their children, I read through countless Facebook posts, and I connected with families around the world. I even found people on TikTok with Moebius! Without this community, I would not be nearly as educated as I am today, and I don’t think I would be the parent I am now.

A Message to the World

To other Moebius parents, I just want to say thank you. Your advice, your stories, and your support mean everything.

And to the world, my message is simple: Inclusion matters. Representation matters. As a mother, nothing warms my heart more than seeing other children accept and love Landon without question. Please talk to your children about differences of all kinds. And if you can, mention Moebius Syndrome to a friend. That’s how we build awareness and, most importantly, a more inclusive society.

The Voice of the Moebius Syndrome Community – mfoms.org