At the age of 14, Shaan was medicated for OCD. At 16, he unexpectedly went into cardiac arrest and almost died. Blood work during his recovery revealed a genetic mutation—ALD, X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy—a progressive disease that affects the nervous system and adrenal glands. Though there were no indications of his illness before his teenage years, he now has trouble speaking, listening, and understanding verbal instructions. He is unable to self-feed or take care of himself without assistance. Shaan likes watching TV and playing games on a phone.
