Real Stories from Our ED Community

Every person and family affected by Ectodermal Dysplasia has their own unique story to tell.

Here, members of our community share their experiences, challenges, achievements and the realities of living with a rare condition. While no two journeys are the same, these stories are united by courage, resilience and hope.

By sharing their personal experiences, our families help others feel understood, connected and less alone. They also help raise awareness of Ectodermal Dysplasia and the many ways it can affect daily life.

We hope these stories offer comfort, inspiration and reassurance, whether you are newly diagnosed, supporting a loved one, or have been part of the ED community for many years.

Above all, we hope they remind you that you are not alone.

Charlotte Smith

Charlotte Smith

Bone grafts. Dental implants. Sinus lift. Crowns. Charlotte Smith has spent much of her life sitting in a dental chair. Affected by hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED), half of her teeth didn’t develop, and the ones that did were misshapen.
Jen and Harrison

Jen and Harrison

Ectodermal Dysplasia runs in my family. My grandmother, father, uncle and cousin all have ED. Growing up I didn’t know what it was called, and I never realised any children I have could possibly be affected.
Leonie

Leonie

My Implant journey

To me, it’s more than just a smile. This was one of the best decisions I have ever made; and even though it was a really long process I have no regrets. Don’t get me wrong I was so grateful to have been given dentures at 5 years old, however I always struggled with them - not always physically, but mentally.
Rachael Dyke

Rachael

Discovering ED Together

From having never heard of this rare condition, to a family with four diagnosed, and more on the pathway, in just four years. It hasn’t been easy, but with the help of family, medical teams, and The ED Society, they’re not alone.
Lola - Dance World Cup

Lola

Shining on the World Stage

Lola is an incredibly talented 13-year-old dancer with a passion for performing. She recently auditioned for the Dance World Cup 2025 and has been lucky enough to qualify, representing Scotland in the finals in Burgos, Spain, July 2025.
More Than Just a Dog

Ezra

Finding Waffle

For the Jones family, support arrived in an unexpected form — a rescue dog named Waffle. What began as a search for companionship has become a remarkable story of instinct, trust and life-changing support

The Student Voice Prize – Beacon for Rare Diseases

The Student Voice Prize is an annual, international essay competition that raises the profile of rare diseases within the medical field, particularly with medical students, nurses and scientists who may have never come across rare diseases in their training. Students are then paired with someone within a patient support group.

In 2024, the ED Society were lucky to be paired with Krish Gupta in the Patient Pairing Scheme. Krish is currently in Year 4 studying Medicine at the University of Leeds, and we are happy to share with you his essay submission for the SVP – Ectodermal Dysplasia: The Silent Symphony of Resilience and Identity”.