In a bustling maternity ward, an infant has a case of newborn hiccups. But this quickly transforms into labored breathing. A chest X-ray unravels an unexpected discovery – calcium deposits around her shoulder. Follow-up tests paint a complex picture, revealing narrowed blood vessels and widespread calcifications. Genetic testing confirms a grim diagnosis: generalized arterial calcification of infancy, or GACI, a rare genetic condition with a challenging prognosis. Nearly half of infants don't survive beyond six months. But as Dr. David Weber, a pediatric endocrinologist and the Medical Director for the Center for Bone Health at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, shares, a revolutionary clinical trial could potentially transform this child's life and the lives of others with this disease.
