Hello. Welcome to the website dedicated to Andrew Marx and his 2q35 deletion.  This site was created as a special place on the Web to share his story and information about his unique chromosomal deletion.  We look forward to sharing news and precious memories with you for years to come!

Thanks for visiting!

Andrew's Story

Before Andrew was born, an ultrasound indicated he had smaller arms than expected; only one out of many markers of Downs Syndrome.  Amniocentesis and Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) tests were administered to determine if Andrew had Downs Syndrome or any other genetic issues.  Both tests came back normal. 

Andrew was born on February 23, 2007 to proud parents Lara and Jeff Marx, without any complications.  According to the doctors, Andrew was expected to be completely healthy.

In Andrew's first few months, he was not lifting his head as expected.  This was the first of many signs that something was not right with Andrew.  Other signs included:

• Digestive issues
• Abnormal amounts of fluid in the inner ears causing a temporary loss of hearing
• Inability to focus on objects in front of him (turned out to be both a vision and eye-sight issue)
• Not engaging with the people or objects around him

When Andrew was 10 months old, advanced genetic testing came back positive.  The tests showed a 2q35 deletion.  The 2 refers to the second chromosome.  The "q" refers to the long arm of the chromosome.  The "35" refers to the exact band on the chromosome with the deletion.

According to genetic specialists, as of today, Andrew is the only person in the world with a documented case of having only a 2q35 deletion and no other genetic abnormality.  This means that Andrew is "Unique".  To us, he will always be one-of-a-kind, just like the rest of our children.

This web site has the following features:

Blog page - updated with information about Andrew as he continues his journey with his genetic condition.  Feel free to submit postings and share in his journey.  (Note- The blog page opens in a separate window.  Close the page to return to the main site.) 

Medical  page  - includes medical and scientific information gathered from different websites regarding chromosomal abnormalities, including deletions.  The page also explains in layman's terms much of what we have learned about genetics.

Contact page - is a way to contact us through email.  Use this page to inquire about the the 2q35 deletion or to provide useful information we can add to the website.  We are open to cross-promotion with other sites concerning similar chromosomal abnormalities.  

-Regards Lara and Jeff Marx