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What is 22q syndrome? Mary Trump tweets for Justin Gigliotti, the influencer behind viral 'Hey Justin' trend

Justin Gigliotti had previously gone viral when his #MerryChristmasJustin post which was retweeted by Ellen DeGeneres

Twitter is flooded with a rare display of positivity and compassion as users can be seen sharing beautiful photos and posts with the hashtag #HeyJustin. In fact, celebrities like writer Mary L Trump, comedian Paula Poundstone and podcaster Michael Zapcic have joined in on the trend along with millions of others. 

The man behind the trend happens to be 24-year-old Justin Gigliotti from Boston, Massachusetts. He suffers from the rare chromosomal disorder 22q syndrome and he actively raises awareness about the same. 

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What is the 22q syndrome?

22q syndrome, also known as DiGeorge syndrome earlier, is a congenital disorder due to a defect in chromosome 22 in the human gene. The genetic mutation can result in improper development of the body. However, the symptoms are not limited to any particular disabilities, rather vary widely from patient to patient, including members belonging to the same family. In fact, nearly 180 health issues have been reported in connection with the disorder.

The health disorders in 22q syndrome include, but are not limited to growth delays, congenital heart disease, gastrointestinal difficulties, breathing trouble, cleft and craniofacial issues, calcium deficiency, immunodeficiency, kidney problems, and skeletal anomalies. The disease can also cause difficulty in speech, delay in cognitive development, ADHD, autism, anxiety, among other symptoms. 

Justin Gigliotti, the 22q patient and influencer who started the #HeyJustin trend, suffers from medical problems like congenital cardiac disease, learning and speech impairment. 

The incurable disease is quite rare, with a chance of occurring once in every 3000 live births, says a report by Mayo Clinic. Most patients have a life expectancy between 40 to 50 years. Surgeries are available to alleviate the symptomatic issues but there is no cure for the disease in itself.

Who is Justin Gigliotti and what are people tweeting for him?

Justin Gigliotti aka Justin G is a 22q patient who strives to raise awareness about the disease through his social media influence. He has over 22.5K followers on Twitter and his latest video has amassed over 217.8K views so far.

In the post, he wrote, "- I have a disability which is called 22q Syndrome Even tho i am Different i am curious to see how many people watching this will say hello to me using the hashtag #HeyJustin id love to get hellos from millions of people from around the world. Retweet!"

He often posts videos like this to spread positivity and awareness. In 2019, his #MerryChristmasJustin video went viral as well, which was retweeted by Ellen DeGeneres. He also posted a similar video with #HappyBirthdayJustin hashtag in July 2020 just before his birthday. 

This time his video garnered thousands of likes and retweets. After the video went viral, he tweeted: 

Donald Trump's estranged niece Mary L Trump shared the video with the hashtag #HeyJustin.

"#HeyJustin keep making the world a better place, Buddy!" wrote Michael Zapcic, while Paula Poundstone wrote, "#HeyJustin I hope you're doing okay during the pandemic. Stay strong, Sir."

"Meet Monica my Granddaughter, age 7, Non Verbal Autism, Severe Sensory Processing Who loves Star Wars, Pop Music, Roller Skating, and The Voice! #HeyJustin," said a user. "Hey Justin! My brother Mark also has a disability (Down syndrome) and he says hello! #HeyJustin," tweeted another.

People also share adorable photos of their pets to give a shoutout to Justin. One user wrote: "#HeyJustin Hope you're having an amazing day and my cat cucumber says hi as well." Another wrote, "#HeyJustin coming from the Okanagan in British Columbia. These are my dogs, Dugg and Ollie."