Jennifer Schnitzler

Jennifer Schnitzler

Jennifer-SchnitzlerJust like a typical teen Jennifer Schnitzler, 18, of Shiloh, Ill., likes to watch TV, listen to music and hang out with her friends. What is distinctive about her is that she has Leigh’s mitochondrial encephalopathy, a disease caused by defects in energy metabolism that has left her little ability to move except for eye motion and facial expressions. Jennifer can’t speak but is learning to use a communication device that she accesses with her eyes.

Jennifer began showing signs of the disease at 2 ½ and at that time she was walking and talking. This type of the disease is rare with only a few hundred cases in the U.S. and there is no cure.

Jennifer uses her eyes to answer yes or no questions and to express her personality.

“One caution – what looks like a ‘no’ might also mean you asking the wrong question,” said Jennifer’s mom, Joni.

Her parents Joni and Mark Schnitzler say that her mental condition is normal and she does well in school. They also say that she can still think, smile and inspire.