Charles and Curtshandra Duplechain’s two daughters, Jade and Ivory, have been diagnosed with Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy, or INAD
NEED TO KNOW
- Two Louisiana parents are raising awareness for INAD, a rare genetic condition that two of their three daughters live with
- INAD, or Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy, is extremely rare, affecting only “one in a million” children
- Charles and Curtshandra Duplechain published The Super Sisters and Their Rare Pet Zebra, a children’s book that they hope will help people understand the condition — and raise awareness for a cure
Two Louisiana parents are hoping that their new children’s book will help raise awareness for the rare genetic condition that two of their children are living with.
Charles and Curtshandra Duplechain's oldest daughter, 10-year-old Jade, and youngest, 6-year-old Ivory, have both been diagnosed with Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy, or INAD, while their sister Emery, 8, has not.
INAD is a brain condition that affects the nervous system in young children, caused by excess iron buildup in the brain, and can lead to rapid developmental regression, with children losing the ability to move or speak. It is extremely rare, affecting only about one in a million children, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and symptoms often begin showing before 3 years of age.
In October 2025, the parents of three, who live in Baton Rouge, La., published a book about their daughters' experience living with INAD: The Super Sisters And Their Rare Pet Zebra. Speaking with local news station WFAB, the couple shared that they hope the book will help spread the word about INAD.
“It’s basically just sharing different aspects of what it’s like to live with a rare disease, some of the difficulties they have, but it's also giving hope,” Curtshandra told WFAB. “It’s also teaching how you can still be kind when you encounter them."
Along with publishing the book, the Duplechains are also helping raise money for a gene therapy trial. According to the Inadcure Foundation, a gene therapy trial is “currently the best hope for children afflicted with INAD.
“There’s a lot of headway and progress being made in the gene therapy, and you know, coming up with solutions that can really help elevate a child’s quality of life,” Charles said. “Maybe even cure this thing when it’s all said and done, but those things do take money.”
The book’s title is a reference to an adage commonly used by doctors: “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras.” In this usage, “zebras” refer to very rare conditions like INAD. The story follows the adventures of the “Super Sisters” and their rare pet zebra, and helps explain INAD to other children.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Jade and Ivory’s sister, Emery, contributed her artwork to the book, and says that she wants to help other people understand her sisters.
“I want them to know how they’re not so different to other people,” Emery told the outlet.
The Super Sisters and Their Rare Pet Zebra is currently available for sale on Amazon.
Read the full article here
