"Today, our flag flies over our equipment in Ukraine. NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engels son Henry died at 6-years-old. Their son had been treated by doctors at the hospital's Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute before his death. Behavior is communication. Engel also opened up about the feeling of watching his younger son surpass Henry in developmental milestones. The young boy passed away on August 5, 2022, after a long struggle with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder, per PEOPLE. Unfortunately, the more we learned about it, the worse the news got.. Engel has lived in the Middle East since graduating from Stanford University in 1996 with a B.A. It had been a very dry summer, and the ground was hard. He frequently spends time at home with his family when he is not reporting from the front lines. I basically drape him in it like a little burrito, and then I just tuck it in on the sides. link to donate to support research in Henry's memory. She says for kids with autism, the world feels overwhelming because you have all of this visual stimuli, auditory stimuli, just the feelings of things on your skin or your taste or the way your body is moving, it feels overwhelming to kids because their brain connections take in too much of all this information. Mary Forrest, wife ofNBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, has opened up about the heartbreaking final days she spent with her six-year-old son Henry's body before he was cremated. He was just starting to figure out how to interact with other people in the world, primarily with other young people and his caregivers in his school environment. Doctors tell me children with autism are among the most affected. The comments below have been moderated in advance. Many adults struggle with it. 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[14] He graduated from Stanford in 1996 with a B.A. Its more common in females because they have two X chromosomes; when it occurs in males, its more severe because they only have one X chromosome. Published: 17:40 EST, 23 February 2023 | Updated: 18:05 EST, 23 February 2023. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neurological disorder that affects brain development and leads to the loss of motor skills and speech abilities, as well as cognitive deficits. He could only interact through 'sight, sound, and touch,' so they constantly cuddled him, praised him, massaged him, and gave him kisses. [77][78] Henry Engel was born with Rett syndrome, a genetic disorder that is extremely rare in males; he died in August 2022 at age 6.[79][80]. Save up to 50% on Skin Care when you shop now. Other families cant afford to turn their homes into therapy gyms, and not all community support is strong. It was taken in southern Turkey after the horrific earthquakes left the area devastated. Hes a journalist and author, whos probably known best for the stories which he has covered for the American TV network NBC News, especially for being the networks chief foreign 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. There is no cure for the condition, and people with Rett syndrome need care to treat their symptoms. Id push the buttons on the toys and listen to the sounds, which I had heard so many times when he had pushed them. They noticed a 'deterioration in Henry's overall condition.' Henry loved music. The dad said that without therapy, Henry was 'bored' and 'whiny.' Thousands? Then, she does grass time, sand box time (her partner built one during lockdown), water time and foot bath time, along with puzzles and games Zach likes. Find the best deals on Kitchen from your favorite brands. 'That period of my life is a blur, but those hours with Henrys body are vivid in my mind,' she wrote. These are the best Home Audio deals youll find online. 2020, National Press Club Edwin M. Hood award for Diplomatic correspondence. Carolina doesnt have a lot of money. Jack with his grandfather, pre-pandemic. It gets really difficult to see that. While describing the challenges Henry was facing, the journalist emphasized how lucky he felt to have Henry in his life. Special needs kids have the most expressive eyes. ', Mary Forrest, wife of NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel, penned an essay for Today about the final days she spent with their six-year-old son Henry after his death, The couple's oldest child passed away last August after a years-long battle with Rett Syndrome, a genetic mutation that leads to severe cognitive deficits and physical impairment. She can brace him better that way as his body gets longer and it's harder for him to manage. As far as we know, there's not a specific cause for it, and it seems to be random," Dr. Sumit Parikh, a neurologist with the Center of Pediatric Neurosciences at the Cleveland Clinic, told TODAY. Changed his clothes. It's Gods will. RELATED: Doctor of Richard Engel's late son Henry reflects on time with him: 'He has this smile'. Scientists are also looking into gene therapy, trying to find ways to modify the expression of the MECP2 gene or compensate for the abnormal expression, said Patterson. We see it with Henry. That's all gone now due to COVID-19, writes his dad, Richard Engel, the chief foreign correspondent for NBC News. ban degrees in subjects related to critical race theory and gender studies. We always surrounded him with love and he returned it, and so much more," Richard wrote a tweet announcing his sons death. Engel and Forrest welcomed their son Theo in 2019, and he admitted that it was difficult to know that their baby boy would soon pass Henry's developmental milestones. 'For everyone following Henrys story, unfortunately hes taken a turn for the worse,' Engel tweeted along with a touching video of his younger son, Theo, cuddled in bed with his big brother. [50] In April 2013, Engel recounted his experience in a Vanity Fair editorial, titled "The Hostage". He cant sit in a chair, even an adapted one, for long either. Save up to 50% on Women's Clothing when you shop now. These are the best Videogames deals youll find online. 24, 2023. In a personal essay, Mary Forrest, wife to NBCs Richard Engel, writes about saying goodbye to her sons physical body. Henry was diagnosed with Rett syndrome, a genetic brain disorder that does not have a treatment or cure, as a toddler. The funeral director told her she 'would know when it was the time to say goodbye,' and to her surprise she did. NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel draws on his 20-year experience of original reporting in The photo brought me back to sitting with our son Henrys body after he died. These are the best Kitchen Linens deals youll find online. 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Children with Rett Syndrome typically start out growing normally and then experience a slowing of development toward the middle of the first year of life, and after that point, they may take longer to reach or never attain developmental milestones, Patterson said. The Engel family brought Henry to the hospital's Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) in 2018 to seek additional answers. 6 Amazon travel essentials for your next getaway, starting at $12. As I sat with Henry, I noticed that his nose was running. Henry was unable able to walk, talk, dress himself, or have the mental capacity beyond a toddler. Richard Engel is an award-winning American journalist and author. NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel shared the heartbreaking news that his eldest son, 6-year-old Henry, has died. The Engels scattered some of their son's ashes at a tree in a park that he loved, and she recalled seeing the remnants for months afterward when she visited. Let's drop the act that this pandemic affects us all equally. He went to school for a few hours a day, with an aide. Lindsay Lowe has been a regular contributor to TODAY.com since 2016, covering pop culture, style, home and other lifestyle topics. The kids would come up and kiss him, tussle his hair and bring him toys. Henry did equine therapy. For everyone following Henrys story, unfortunately hes taken a turn for the worse, Engel wrote on Twitter. His lobes are especially long and soft. We will keep fighting for you.". [4], In May 2015, Engel married producer Mary Forrest. Each time I went I would stay for about an hour, then leave the room and head to the front door of the funeral home before turning back for one last goodbye. "MECP2 mutations cause Rett syndrome, a disorder that typically affects girls after their first birthday, robbing them of learned skills and leaving them with cognitive deficits, loss of speech, and a variety of motor difficulties," the Texas Children's Hospital page explains. I dont know. But any part of Henry in any form be it hair, teeth, runny nose tissues is precious right now,' she explained. Mary Forrest Engel, the spouse of Richard Engel, is opening up about the week she spent with their 6-year-old boy Henry after he died. Now, he's not doing that, she said. He doesnt sit up straight. "Our beloved son Henry passed away. It gets really difficult to see that. The couple's oldest childpassed away last August after a years-long battle withRett Syndrome, a genetic mutation that leads to severe cognitive deficits and physical impairment. NBC News correspondent Richard Engel shared Thursday that his 6-year-old son, Henry, has died following a Rett syndrome diagnosis. 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