About this episode
When a mother's intuition conflicts with medical opinion, lives hang in the balance. For Missy Ramirez, trusting her gut during her son's mysterious illness ultimately led to uncovering IPEX – an extremely rare autoimmune disorder affecting just 1 in 1.6 million people worldwide. Behind her N95 mask (worn to protect her immunocompromised son), Missy shares the harrowing journey from that first emergency room visit to becoming a powerhouse advocate for bone marrow registry diversity. Unlike many immune disorders that weaken defenses, IPEX sends Jax's immune system into overdrive – a "Formula One race car" response that attacks not just infections but his own organs and tissues. The only cure? A blood stem cell transplant from a perfectly matched donor. But therein lies another challenge: patients of Latino heritage like Jax have less than a 50% chance of finding a compatible donor, compared to the 85-90% match rate for Caucasian patients. Through tears and laughter, Missy reveals how this diagnosis transformed her into a fierce medical advocate and community organizer who has helped register over 7,000 potential donors to the Be The Match registry. Her philosophy is beautifully simple: "The universe provides what you give out." Despite watching her son fight for his life multiple times, she maintains infectious optimism and determination to help not just Jax, but countless families facing similar battles. Between sharing wild stories from her pre-mom life (escaping a suspicious cab driver and surviving Woodstock '99), Missy delivers a powerful message about becoming a "walking hero" through a simple cheek swab. Text "Jax Ramirez PA" to 61474 to get your home testing kit, follow their journey on social media @BeTheMatchForJax, or simply share their story to help create a world where everyone has an equal chance at finding their lifesaving match. Send us a text Mocktails Or Messy podcast IG: @mocktailsormessy | TikTok: @mockmess Watch | YouTube Mocktails Or Messy Listen | Apple , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Featured | #11 of Best Local Podcasts: FeedSpot