What is the Coffin-Lowry Syndrome Foundation?

2022-Present

In the summer of 2022, Mary Hoffman had decided to step down from the CLS Foundation and I took over running the Foundation. I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity. We all are forever grateful to Mary for her work in creating and running this foundation. I am the mother of two young men. Our youngest, Matthew, is 30 years old and has CLS. Our family lives in North Alabama. I recently retired from my corporate career and have more time to dedicate to the foundation. I hope to assist other families and bring awareness of CLS as Mary did throughout the past 30 years.
-Theresa Moxley


1991-2022

The Coffin-Lowry Syndrome Foundation was created in 1991 when my then infant son, Davis, was diagnosed with the condition. I searched for information and found very little was available. I contacted the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD), assuming that maybe they would have a dozen or so families in the U.S. in their database. At that time, there was only one other family in the NORD database – they had a 22 year-old daughter. Communicating among ourselves, we eventually expanded this to a half-dozen families. We all said the same thing, it’s too bad there isn’t a support group. Someone should start one. Well, I thought, I’m someone. Maybe I should start a support group. And CLSF was born.

CLSF has been a great resource for families affected by CLS. It gives us a place to share much-needed information that just doesn’t exist anywhere else. We have been instrumental in working with the research group in France that eventually identified the RSK-2 defect that causes CLS. It is by sharing what we know with each other that helps all of us more effectively help our children live the best life they can live. If you found this site to be useful, please consider making a donation. – Mary Hoffman