Catherine Mullett, 30, has moyamoya disease. She's also a Special Olympics athlete. Her mom, Kathy Syrokosz, speaks with Paul Wynn about her daughter's accomplishments.

Because she was born two months premature, Catherine needed physical and occupational therapy to learn how to stand and walk and speech therapy to communicate. She also was diagnosed with learning and developmental disabilities, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and dyscalculia, a learning disorder that makes it difficult to understand math concepts.

Growing up, Catherine mostly avoided sports and focused on band and choir. After graduating from high school, she joined an adult day care program where she participates in activities like arts and crafts; learns life skills such as cooking, hygiene, and managing money; and goes on field trips. In her early twenties, she started working part-time at a home and farm store, where her responsibilities include stocking shelves and customer service.

In 2020, when she was 27, Catherine had a mild stroke and was subsequently diagnosed with moyamoya disease, which is caused by a narrowing of and blockages in the arteries at the base of the brain. Moyamoya is Japanese for “puff of smoke,” a reference to the appearance of the tiny vessels that form to compensate for the narrowing arteries. The condition increases the risk of strokes due to lack of blood flow, seizures, and brain bleeds. A year after her diagnosis, Catherine had two surgeries to reroute some arteries to get more blood flowing to other parts of her brain and reduce the risk of future strokes.

About six months after her surgeries, Catherine returned to the day care program and met some new friends who played sports and participated in Special Olympics. Catherine was excited to join, and I thought a new activity would be good for her.

Since then, she has competed in track and bowling and played third base on the softball team. The experience has taught her about good sportsmanship and boosted her confidence. She also loves the camaraderie. Everyone cheers everyone on, no matter the score.

To offset the isolation I experienced after Catherine's diagnosis, I joined the World Moyamoya Alliance and the Moyamoya Foundation and started a Facebook group (Catherine's Moyamoya Journey) to raise awareness, share information, and support other families. A few months ago, Catherine and I attended a moyamoya support group at a local hospital. We met other people dealing with the condition who could relate to our challenges, and it was energizing to listen to their stories and hear the solutions that others provided.

I hope Catherine, who still sometimes feels lonely because of her rare condition, will make new friends through the group. I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to recruit some players for the next Special Olympics softball team. —As told to Paul Wynn