Viktoria Schnaderbeck reveals her daughter's rare genetic condition publicly

Dup15q is a very rare genetic developmental disorder caused by an additional copy of a segment on chromosome 15. According to statistics, the syndrome is estimated to occur in approximately one in 15,000 newborns. A human geneticist explained that known cases can be associated with cognitive disability, autism spectrum-related symptoms, delayed or absent speech development, perceptual disorders, and an increased risk of epilepsy. The symptoms range, depending on the case, from developmental delays and muscle weakness to epilepsy.

What is the Dup15q syndrome?

The 35-year-old from Styria is one of the most successful female soccer players in Austria. She played for many years for FC Bayern Munich and FC Arsenal, made 84 appearances for the ÖFB team, and led the team as captain to the semifinals of the European Championship in 2017. After the end of her active career, she works as a TV expert for ORF and most recently analyzed the FIFA World Cup.

Career of an exceptional player

Despite the personal burden, the couple also found words of pride and gratitude in the post. "Wir sind unbeschreiblich stolz auf sie", it says about daughter Emilie. The experience had strengthened them "als Individuen, als Pärchen und als Familie". At the same time, they wrote that "kein Erfolg, kein Job, keine Auszeichnung dieser Welt auch nur annähernd so wichtig ist wie das Wohlbefinden unserer Familie und unserer Tochter". When writing the post, tears still came to them: "Noch heute füllen sich unsere Augen mit Tränen, wenn wir diese Zeilen auf dem Handy eintippen."

Appeal to politics and society

At the same time, Schnaderbeck made an urgent appeal to politics and society. She warned that resources – time, money, personnel, and aids – could become scarcer in the future for families with disabled children. "Als Eltern macht uns der Gedanke Angst, dass diese Ressourcen in Zukunft limitiert sein könnten und sich dadurch die Lebensqualität unserer Tochter und vieler, vieler anderer Menschen verschlechtert", the former captain wrote. She called for a stronger commitment to the rights of people with disabilities, to care work, and to inclusion.

By going public, the couple hopes to draw attention to a clinical picture that is hardly known to the general public. Experts emphasize that the severity of Dup15q can vary greatly from case to case, and that an early diagnosis can make it easier for affected families to access targeted support and therapeutic assistance.