Local teachers speak out in Washington for a cure for a rare disease

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Local teachers speak out in Washington for a cure for a rare disease

Author: Elaine Allen-Emrich Community News Editor

Published On: 02/27/2020

ENGLEWOOD — Two Englewood Elementary School teachers went to Capitol Hill to advocate for more funding for NF2 research.

Stephanie Ham was there to support her friend and fellow first-grade teacher Lauren Hanrahan. The pair joined about 90 others from around the nation to bring awareness of the extremely rare genetic disease, Neurofibromatosis Type 2, Hanrahan suffers and to secure more funding for NF2 research for a cure.

While pregnant, Hanrahan suffered three tumors on her spine and two in her ears. She wakes up each day not knowing if she’ll be able to hear her two young children. NF2 causes issues with hearing, vision, mobility, and even death.