LISA: There is no cure for microcephaly.
Once you are born with microcephaly; it’s a long lifetime birth defect.
LISA: There is no cure, there is no medicine for it, you can’t reverse it.
COMM: With the recent outbreak of Zika virus in South America and its possible links to
microcephaly making headlines, Lisa Koltay and her son Daryle are packaging up donations
to send to affected families.
DARYLE: For the microcephaly kids.
They need them.
INTERVIEWER: Why did you decide to do it?
DARYLE: Because after they have been through you know, it’s really difficult.
LISA: He wants to help the mothers and help the children and I think that’s very special
and we want to help him serve that purpose.
COMM: Babies born with microcephaly have smaller heads than average and can experience incomplete
brain development.
COMM: Daryle was born with the condition 19 years ago.
And the recent news coverage has started his family wondering what might have caused it.
BARRY: I remember first hearing about it, I think early December.
I had seen an article and I was like wait a second, what is this.
BARRY: Because I have never heard microcephaly in any news stories.
I was like what is this.
I started reading, I said oh my god.
BARRY: I remember mom saying, you know, they never really found a reason why Daryle is
like this.
LISA: They ran tests on Daryle, couldn’t find out what caused the microcephaly.
It’s always been a mystery.
LISA: There is suspicious about the Zika virus.
When I was pregnant with Daryle, I got bit several times, didn’t think anything of
it.
I did develop a rash on top of my feet.
I fell ill, a little ill.
LISA: Microcephaly has always been in the dark and with the Zika virus, you know and
the possible link, we keep track of it.
LISA: It could be a possibility to tell Daryle got his birth defect and might have an answer.
COMM: Daryle didn’t speak for the first 7 years of his life; expressing himself through
biting, kicking and screaming.
COMM: He currently has the IQ of an 8 year old but will never be able to live independently.
INTERVIEWER: Daryle can you tell us what you like do with your mom?
DARYLE: Everything.
LISA: We do everything together, don’t we Daryle?
DARYLE: Yeah.
LISA: We are like twins.
We are always together, 24/7, huh?
DARYLE: Yeah.
INTERVIEWER: Is there anything you find tough?
DARYLE: Everything is tough.
Everything.
LISA: He is a true fighter.
He is a tough cookie.
He has worked extremely hard with the language and speech therapy and occupational therapy.
LISA: He graduated high school on special diploma.
I am extremely proud of Daryle.
He has worked very very hard.
He does not give up and he is a fighter.
PATRICK: The hardest part is trying to educate people and get people to really realize and
not make fun of him.
PATRICK: You know, you go to the mall or somewhere and someone wants to make fun of child, it’s
really hard.
Microcephaly is really hard.
LISA: People still stare and look and ask you know what’s wrong.
LISA: The mushroom haircut, I gave that to him to add volume to his head so people wouldn’t
stare at him all the time.
INTERVIEWER: Do you feel different from other people?
DARYLE: Yeah.
I do.
INTERVIEWER: What makes you different?
DARYLE: Microcephaly.
INTERVIEWER: How?
DARYLE: Every time, you can’t control it.
You try and try.
DARYLE: Only way you make yourself happy is songs or jewellery.
That’s all it takes.
INTERVIEWER: Tell us about the concentration it takes to do this Daryle.
DARYLE: Oh, it takes hours and hours and hours to do it.
You got to have practice, if you want to do jewellery.
COMM: Now, the family has launched an online appeal to raise awareness of microcephaly
and to help Daryle continue his charitable donations.
LISA: Daryle really loves to help people and we feel that this is his purpose in life.
DARYLE: With the Microcephaly, the Zika, whatever yet money is all it takes.