Rare diseases

“Doctors try hard, but they are not gods”

Ella was diagnosed with KAT6 in 2018. In her hand she holds the symbolic and cuddly toy, the cute "zebra".(Bild: zVg)

Monika Rammal is a teacher of German and legal rhetoric at the HAK Innsbruck. She founded the "KAT6 Foundation Austria" association. She calls children with rare diseases "zebra children". Her symbolic animal is the "zebra". People who draw attention to rare diseases are "sight bears". The association has been awarded the Austrian Child Protection Prize twice. The HAK won the BHS Award. Rammal met with the "Krone" for an interview.

"Krone": How did you come to set up the KAT6 Foundation Austria association?
Monika Rammal: My niece Ella was born in 2016 and was diagnosed in 2018. It was an indirect cry for help from my older sister, who didn't know what to do after the diagnosis. I thought to myself: if there's no way, we'll find one. After all, my dream job is to be a teacher and I made a few projects with my pupils, such as the short film "Ella" on YouTube.