Our journey as a family has been one of resilience, love, and discovery. After years of searching for answers, we finally learned Rowan’s diagnosis at five years old: Fragile X syndrome. It was a perfect fit for our complicated little girl and gave us the answers we needed to help her thrive. It also introduced us to FRAXA Research Foundation and an incredible community of support. In fact, we are proud to report that Brandon Gale is a member of FRAXA's Honorary Board.
Rowan has always been full of life. She loves reading, coloring, horses, dogs, Taylor Swift, and most of all, her brother. Her love for books is unmatched — it’s her happy place. Seeing her joy as she flips through her favorite stories reminds us how far she’s come.
Getting here hasn’t been easy. The years of unanswered questions, countless evaluations, and sleepless nights spent researching are still fresh in my mind. But through it all, we’ve been fortunate. Rowan has an amazing village of family, friends, teachers and therapists who surround her with love, and FRAXA has been there as a lifeline.
How FRAXA is Changing Lives for Families Like Ours
FRAXA has been a game-changer for families like ours. Over the past 30 years, they’ve funded countless research projects that have brought us to a pivotal moment — an exciting time when curative therapies are within reach.
Promising technologies that repair the Fragile X mutation need support to advance their research and start clinical trials. This work doesn’t just offer hope to those of us living with Fragile X — it has the potential to unlock treatments for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other rare genetic disorders.
While Fragile X is considered a rare disease, it’s the most common known cause of intellectual disability and autism. FRAXA’s work is vital, and every dollar fuels research and gives families like ours the hope we need.
Join Us in Making Hope a Reality
We are grateful for the incredible progress made so far, but there is still so much to do. Rowan has shown us how strong and determined she is, and we want to ensure her future is as bright as her smile.
Your support can help make curative therapies a reality. Every donation brings us closer to breakthroughs that could change lives — not just for Rowan, but for so many others.
Thank you for being part of our journey.
With love and gratitude,
Jody and Brandon Gale