Marinda du Toit
Living in California, Marinda’s son, Daniel, has been a patient of Dr. Curry since 2011, when his pediatrician noted his developmental delays early on and started investigating. Several other syndromes, including Williams syndrome, were considered, but genetic testing ruled out all abnormalities. In early 2017, Dr. Curry contacted Marinda requesting further testing, leading to Daniel’s diagnosis with JdVS later the same year. There was little information available then, only one article that described the PPM1D gene mutation. This article prompted the request for further testing. Through Dr. Curry, Marinda was able to get connected with other families with the same new diagnosis. Recognizing that there would be other parents looking for support and more information following diagnosis, a small group of mothers has been working to raise awareness for JdVS and connect families worldwide.
Marinda was born in South Africa, emigrating to the US with her husband, Arno, in 2005. Their first child, Leann, was born in 2007 and is unaffected by JdVS. Marinda has a bachelor’s degree in Nursing and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in leadership and administration. Her nursing background is in Labor & Delivery, and she is currently employed as a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit nurse.
