OUR STORY

Kareem & Sarita Edwards are the proud parents of Elijah, a happy little boy diagnosed in utero with Full Trisomy 18. Their journey navigating the healthcare system inspired the creation of The E.WE Foundation.

Elijah’s Trisomy 18 diagnosis came after a routine prenatal ultrasound revealed anomalies. Following confirmation by a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist, the Edwards family faced a devastating reality—Trisomy 18 is often labeled “incompatible with life,” a phrase that too often leads to the denial of necessary care.

After Elijah’s birth, the family was discharged under hospice care and spent the first seven months coordinating life-sustaining therapies independently. Many essential therapies were delayed or denied based solely on his diagnosis. Today, Elijah has a medical team of over 20 specialists at Children’s of Alabama, a two-hour, one-way trip from home.

Their journey highlighted the harsh disparities families face with rare diagnoses and the urgent need for:

  • Early and accurate diagnosis
  • Coordinated specialty care
  • Mental and emotional support for families
  • Advocacy to shift public and medical narratives
  • Support and education for healthcare professionals serving rare disease communities

Together, Kareem and Sarita bring over four decades of combined experience in Business and Healthcare Management:

  • Sarita Edwards, President and CEO, is a licensed minister, award-winning advocate, and recognized global thought leader in health systems leadership. She is a keynote speaker and serves on multiple executive advisory boards and coalitions focused on healthcare, rare diseases, and public policy. Sarita holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science, a Master’s in Healthcare Administration, is nationally certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid Instruction, and is pursuing her Doctorate in Health Sciences.
  • Kareem Edwards, Vice President of Operations, is a Senior Manager at a global transportation and logistics company and holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

The Edwards family—Jeffrey, Rian, Josiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah—resides in Alabama.

Watch Our Journey of Life, Love, and Hope – A Family Impact Story

(c) The E.WE Foundation | August 2022.