An emotional father broke down in tears during a live appearance on This Morning as he shared his family's heartbreaking journey with his daughter's rare genetic condition.
Appearing on the ITV daytime show, the devastated dad revealed how his young daughter battles Phelan-McDermid Syndrome, an extremely rare chromosomal disorder affecting just 3,000 people worldwide.
The Emotional Revelation
"When we finally got the diagnosis after years of uncertainty, it was both a relief and completely devastating," the father explained, his voice cracking with emotion. "You never imagine your child facing something like this."
Hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield visibly moved as the father described the daily challenges his family faces, including his daughter's:
- Severe developmental delays
- Communication difficulties
- Epileptic seizures
- Sleep disturbances
Raising Awareness
The appearance aimed to shine a light on this little-known condition and raise funds for research. "We want other families to get answers faster than we did," the father said, wiping away tears.
Viewers immediately took to social media, praising the family's courage and sharing messages of support:
"Watching this brave dad on #ThisMorning has me in floods of tears - what an incredible family."
About Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
The rare genetic disorder results from a missing piece of chromosome 22. Key characteristics include:
- Intellectual disability
- Delayed or absent speech
- Low muscle tone
- Autism spectrum behaviours
Medical experts emphasize that early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve quality of life for affected children.
