For as long as he can remember, Eli McCausland has been fascinated by wrestling. His passion for the sport eventually culminated in his co-ownership of Midwest All-Star Wrestling, as well as Zonat Collectibles, a store which sells “all things wrestling.” Now, shares reporting by Northfield News, McCausland is taking his love for wrestling to new heights by using it to raise Rett syndrome awareness.
McCausland’s youngest daughter Natalie, who is fifteen, was diagnosed with Rett syndrome when she was just nine months old. Over the years, the McCausland family has done whatever they can to raise funds and awareness. But it has been hard to watch Natalie deal with health issues like developmental regression and severe scoliosis. She recently recovered from surgery and her family reports that her seizures are under control. While Natalie, who loves listening to BTS, is doing well right now, the McCausland family is still on a mission to broaden Rett syndrome awareness and, in turn, work towards more research and treatment options.
The recent fundraising event featured big names from Midwest All-Star Wrestling, from veteran Mitch Paradise to Downtown Petey Brown. In addition to wrestling, the fundraising event offered a silent auction. Money raised during the event will be donated to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF), an organization that has been working to accelerate Rett syndrome research and support families for nearly 40 years.
What is Rett Syndrome?
Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that predominantly affects females. Every 1 in 10,000 females has this disorder and it is significantly less common in males. Learn more about Rett syndrome in males.
Caused by MECP2 gene mutations, Rett syndrome causes developmental delays and regression, problems with muscle function, and seizures. There are no cures or disease-specific treatments for this disorder. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom management. However, organizations like the IRSF are working to advance research into more targeted therapeutic options. Symptoms of this disorder often appear between 12-18 months old, though they can occur earlier or later. These may include:
- Slowed brain growth and microcephaly (an abnormally small head size)
- Scoliosis
- Reduced hand control
- A tense and irritable disposition
- Loss of muscle tone
- Irregular heartbeat
- Uncoordinated breathing
- Small feet and hands that may get cold easily
- Sleep disturbances
- Loss of language skills
- Hand-flapping, wringing, squeezing, tapping, clapping, or other similar movements
- Muscle weakness and/or stiffness
- Seizures
