Seema Lalani: “I admit it was hard to think of getting pregnant, having seen so many problems by working in genetics. There’s a 2 to 3 percent risk of birth defects in any pregnancy. I totally believe having a healthy child is a miracle.”

Love of children guided career choice

Seema Lalani researches birth defect
By KIM HUGHES
Chronicle Correspondent

Every day at work, Dr. Seema Lalani painstakingly searches for one more piece of the puzzle that is CHARGE syndrome, a pattern of birth defects which occurs in approximately one in every 9,000-10,000 births worldwide.

When she’s not immersed in research, Lalani, a 36-year-old Sugar Land resident, visits with the littlest of patients in clinic at Baylor College of Medicine, where she’s assistant professor of Molecular and Human Genetics.

“These are children who have difficulties with seeing, hearing, balancing, eating, swallowing and a whole lot of other functioning that we all take for granted,” Lalani said. “Most of them are intellectually normal children, in my experience, who work against all odds with unparalleled strength and courage. Knowing them has made me a better person and I cherish every part of my research in this field.”

Lalani, who earned her medical degree from the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan, followed by a pediatrics residency at Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania, began her genetics fellowship at Baylor in 2000.

She settled on CHARGE syndrome for her project, and has been working diligently ever since.

In 2004, Dutch researchers had a eureka moment when they discovered a gene for CHARGE syndrome.

Lalani said it’s satisfying as a researcher to be one step closer to getting an answer.

“Now the course of my research is sequence analysis of this gene,” Lalani said. “I have a number of patients enrolled in the study. We automatically test the parent to see if it’s in the parents or just the child. Most of the time we find it’s a new event in the child.”

Lalani said everybody has this gene, but they don’t know what causes the mutation in children born with CHARGE syndrome.

“Sequence analysis is helpful in a number of ways,” Lalani said. “If you find a mutation, you have a cause for the condition. Second, a lot of families are interested in knowing if this could happen again, before having another child.”

Lalani can understand that, and is pleased when she can reassure parents. She herself is a mother of two children: Ayaan is 15-months-old, and Sophia is almost 3-years-old.

“I admit it was hard to think of getting pregnant, having seen so many problems by working in genetics,” said Lalani, who has been married to her husband Murad Pirani for eight years. “There’s a 2 to 3 percent risk of birth defects in any pregnancy. I totally believe having a healthy child is a miracle.”

Lalani’s sister, Austin resident Shaila Abdullah, said there’s nothing surprising about Lalani opting for a career in pediatrics.

“Early on we caught on that Seema has the gift of healing,” said Abdullah, 36. “She has the Midas touch when it comes to cure. She is very intuitive and can sense a problem pretty quickly. She does not panic easily and is very thorough in her ability to get to the root of a matter.”

And Lalani, who considered a career as a pre-school teacher, just plain loves children.

“I love kids, and that’s the reason I went into pediatrics during my residency,” Lalani said. “I picked up genetics because I just wanted to be a better pediatrician who could detect abnormalities in children. I can’t imagine myself doing anything other than seeing pediatric patients and conducting research.”

Nor can Katy resident Brownie Shott, mother to 14-year-old Taylor, who has CHARGE syndrome.

“Her level of dedication to this work is such a blessing,” Shott said. “We don’t have a celebrity attached to it, and it’s just not ’sexy’ enough of a disorder to get tons of attention. Her dedication and willingness to visit with parents, attend conferences … she goes way above and beyond. We are blessed to have doctors like her, who for whatever reason are interested in our kiddos.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nb/faces/4986558.html

Ismaili Muslim Community donates 1,500 volunteer hours to NAM

Second Chance Resale Shop has a group of volunteers who are fulfilling a mission while helping the community through Northwest Assistance Ministries.

Between 75 and 110 members of the Ismaili Muslim community’s Golden Club for seniors have committed to volunteering 50 hours each in honor of a momentous event in the history of the Ismaili Muslim community.

“July 11, 2007 marks the 50th anniversary (Golden Jubilee) of the Imamat (spiritual leadership) of His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him),” said Hassan Jiwani, a member of the Golden Club - North Houston leadership team.

“We seniors decided to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of our Imam in a way that would reflect the ethic of our faith - by serving the wider community.  In doing so, we will contribute towards the mission of NAM, gain personal satisfaction, and in our own way celebrate the Golden Jubilee,” Jiwani said. “Each of us committed to 50 hours of voluntary service to a non-profit organization so the benefits go to a good communal cause.”

The Golden Club is donating 3,000 hours of community service to community groups including 1,500 hours at NAM.

“We chose NAM because it is active in the community in the north Houston area,” said Jiwani. “NAM’s English classes benefited members of our community and this is our way of giving back.” 

“This volunteer effort also shows Golden Club members that they can accomplish a lot of good through teamwork. We also wanted the seniors to see that they can be contributing members of the community like anyone else,” said Lakhani Gulamali, Golden Club leader.

The leaders of Golden Club commented on the positive experience in working with the NAM staff, who have always been very helpful, cooperative and treated the seniors with compassion and respect, Jiwani said. Golden Club members will be continuing their volunteer work on a regular basis.

NAM Online