Loving Melbourne mum Bec Marsh has only ever wanted one thing from her youngest son – for him to be able to hug her back.
Looking at her three-year-old boy Jahleel’s bright eyes and cheeky smile, you’d never know the unimaginable hardships he has already faced in his short life. When the toddler was just three months old he became the youngest in the world to be diagnosed with a rare one-in56 million condition described as “children’s Parkinson’s disease”.
The brain disorder is known as aromatic amino acid decarboxylase deficiency, which is a neurological genetic condition that affects the way signals are passed between certain cells in the nervous system.
“He is such a sweet little boy. He can only smile a few minutes a day, but it’s so lovely to get a glimpse into the beautiful child he truly is,” Bec, 41, tells Woman’s Day.
“He will often just crack up laughing, and it warms my heart. He can be so cheeky, but he is also super sweet and has such a gentle personality.”
‘TRAPPED’ INSIDE
This story is from the May 4, 2020 edition of Woman's Day Australia.
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This story is from the May 4, 2020 edition of Woman's Day Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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