Mother and son fight to raise awareness for rare diseases

Dante’ laughs as Dean jokes with him at home. His condition has slowly taken Dante’s ability to walk without help, along with some of his hearing and vision. — Photos: TNS

Almost every night for several years, Marlo Dean has helped her son to bed, then stayed awake listening for the machines that alert her when his breathing is off.

She then rises before dawn, helping young Dante’ Herrera get ready for a new day. Most of his hearing is gone and he struggles to speak or walk.