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Jacqueline A. Noonan, M.D.

For me, meeting, and getting to know Dr. Jacqueline Noonan is a very unique and humbling experience. My daughter (Brenda) was born with Noonan syndrome. and diagnosed almost right after she was born in 1990. It was a very scary and uncertain time. Until 1996, I thought we were experiencing Noonan syndrome alone. That is when I ran into the group TNSSG, Inc, and Wanda Robinson. Thanks to Wanda's dedication to the Noonan syndrome community, I met Dr. Noonan at that first conference, a year later in 1997. Dr. Noonan struck me as a very quiet, poised yet extremely knowledgeable and professional person. Dr. Noonan interacted especially well with the younger children. You can see the love Dr. Noonan has for these kids just by watching her interact with them. When she does interact she puts her clinician hat aside, and she is a person interacting with a person. This is wonderful for both the kids and the parents of people with Noonan syndrome because often their world is consumed by "medicine". Her interaction with these families is truly magical. She utterly adores these kids we affectionately refer to as "Noonies". She knows most of them by name from coming to conference after Conference, and truly cares about each one as an individual. It is quite an experience (emotional) to come to a conference, and watch these kids interact with Dr. Noonan. To have Dr. Noonan care so deeply and consistently adds infinite warmth to the experience. Our world would not be the same without Dr. Noonan. It was very heartening to meet Dr. Noonan a second and third time at a conference. She remembered my child and me by name. If I did not experience it first hand, I would have never thought that was possible. We are not patients of Dr. Noonan. We had only met her briefly, at a previous conference, with over 200 other people-! I was very happy, not to mention humbled by her presence. Her smile and demeanor are infectious. At the most recent conference (August 2007), Rick Guidotti from "Positive Exposure' was available to work his magic for the kids who attended the conference. He helps people see differences as beautiful. He touched many people at the conference, including Dr. Noonan. He was off in a corner asking two teenagers with Noonan syndrome to strike the pose (like models do), and give him some attitude. Or. Noonan was watching With affection and love in her eyes. Rick caught Dr. Noonan, and asked her to pose as well. He wanted her to loosen up, and give him some "attitude" as well, Swing her hips, or look over her shoulder. .. She was not initially good at this endeavor because she is so modest. He finally got her to "come out of her shell" a little bit. II was so uplifting to watch Dr. Noonan, with such humility, open up for the camera. Or. Noonan is a blessing, not only to our Noonie community, but also to the world at large. The award for "lifetime achievement" is along overdue distinction to a very unique, exceptionally caring, and humble person. Yay, Dr. Noonan-!