The Associated Press recently featured a story on the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program (IBTPP), a partner of Heluna Health, highlighting a heartfelt tradition that supports families that brings comfort and connection to affected families.
Each year, IBTPP staff hand-decorate and mail approximately 200 birthday cards to children recovering from infant botulism, celebrating their first birthdays after treatment. In recent months, recipients have included babies affected by a botulism outbreak linked to contaminated ByHeart infant formula.
While the program is the world’s only provider of BabyBIG®, the life-saving treatment for infant botulism, its commitment extends beyond clinical care. Staff members personally design the cards, often featuring cheerful animals in party hats, offering families a meaningful reminder of how far their children have come.“
Support of the babies and their families remains paramount to our program and our mission,” said Dr. Jessica Khouri, the program’s senior medical officer.
At its core, IBTPP’s mission is to diagnose, treat, and prevent infant botulism — a rare illness that occurs when babies ingest botulism spores that grow in the intestine and produce a toxin attacking the nervous system. Once associated with mortality rates as high as 90%, the disease now has a survival rate exceeding 99% with timely treatment.
With approximately 200 cases treated each year and nearly 1,500 families connected through its parent network, IBTPP continues to provide both medical expertise and lasting community for families nationwide.
Click here to read the full story from the Associated Press.
