Clara B Worth Elementary in Bayville is holding its first-ever "Think Zebra Day," to help a nine-year-old student raise awareness about immune deficiencies and other rare diseases in support of his mother. 

Kimberly Barna and her daughter Cali
Kimberly Barna and her daughter Cali (Kimberly Barna)
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Tyler Barna's mother, Kimberly, suffers from an extremely rare disease affecting just one in 10 million people called Compliment Deficiency.

"Rare diseases are classified as such; when it affects fewer than 200,000 Americans at any one time. There are 6,000 or 7,000 rare diseases including immune deficiencies and some cancers," said Barna. "I happen to suffer from a rarer, rarer form of immune deficiences."

Barna said she's met a lot of people over the past year, including patients and doctors, since they held the first "Think Zebra Day," at Beachwood Elementary School. It was the first school in Berkeley Township and Ocean County to dedicate a day for awareness. She added it's important to continue educating children.

"They're going to come one day and hopefully discover cures for all the different diseases and illnesses that are out there now."

Children were asked to dress in black and white for the day.

"The Immune Deficiency Foundation recognizes the Zebra as unique because it goes along with the unusual illnesses doctors sometimes miss because they are so rare," said Barna.

The horse is considered the common place thing in medical terms, when doctors should be looking for the zebra.

"One person can make a difference and everyone should try," said Barna, referring to a quote from Former President John F. Kennedy, when describing how proud she is of her son for supporting her and getting up in front of an audience to spread awareness about her illness. She said it's what she is continuing to try to do as well.

Barna is trying to get other schools to recognize "Think Zebra Day," but admitted it is difficult with so many other different causes also trying to raise awareness that have already been scheduled years in advance, such as the March of Dimes and Autism.

"They're all so important, and to throw in another thing is hard. But this is equally important because it affects adults and children and your immune system. A lot of people don't realize how critical the immune system is," added Barna.

 

 

 

 

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