Justin G. is on top of the trends, he’s into music and he’s into hashtags. He is also into a syndrome called 22Q, which he’s had since birth.
What is 22q? 2q11.2 Deletion syndrome is a disorder caused by a small missing piece of the 22nd chromosome, according to 22q Family Foundation.
However, this small missing piece can affect every system in the human body and can be the cause of 200 mild to serious health and developmental issues in children. It is the second most common genetic disorder behind Down’s Syndrome. It is estimated that one in 2,000 to 4,000 estimated number of children are born each year with 22q.” (via Newsweek)
This condition affects Justin G.’s speech, his ability to do some things quickly, like process math, and it has also affected one of his heart valves. As a result, Justin has had several open heart surgeries.
But, despite just having yet another heart surgery not too long ago to help with his 22Q-related symptoms – being the awesome guy that Justin is – he decided that he wanted the world to know more about 22Q.
So, he did what any hashtag lover would do, he tweeted! And guess what? He got his wish!
Lots of influencers shared his tweet – including Ellen (wow!) and Mariah Carey (awesome!) – which resulted in 3 million views. He also ended up in Newsweek, CBS, and more. Learn more about Justin G., below.
Ask Justin G. Anything About 22Q
Learn more ABOUT Justin G. & 22Q
News Articles About Justin
- NEWSWEEK: What Is 22q Syndrome? #HeyJustin Trends as Man With Disorder Asks for Millions of Hellos
- WBZ NEWS: Local Disabilities Advocate And Influencer Grateful For Covid-19 Vaccine
CBS BOSTON: Man Raising Awareness For 22Q Syndrome Receives Messages From Around The World
LIAM O’DELL: Hey Twitter, where are all the verified disabled people?
NO MORE GMOS: What Is 22q Syndrome? #HeyJustin Trends as Man With Disorder Asks for Millions of Hellos
Facts About 22Q
22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality. It can cause a wide range of health and developmental issues, including heart defects, breathing issues, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, immune and endocrine systems, autism or developmental delays or learning disabilities in some individuals.
- It occurs in an estimated 1 in 2,000-4,000 live births, although this is possibly an underestimate of the prevalence of this deletion, making it almost as common as Down’s syndrome.
- Other names for the 22q11.2 deletion include DiGeorge syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, Opitz G/BBB syndrome, and Cayler Cardiofacial syndrome.
