‘Cruel’ disease robbed little girl of speech and movement months after she learnt to walk and talk

Ben Stewart is fighting to raise funds for research into Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic mutation which leaves his daughter Penny unable to walk, talk or care for herself

He’ll never forget watching his “bright, bubbly” daughter take her first steps.

But in that magical moment devoted dad Ben Stewart couldn’t have known these stumbling first steps would soon be tragically halted.

Little Penny Stewart was two years old when her development began to dramatically reverse.

Almost overnight, the little girl who had been only just behind the milestones for her age, started to lose the ability to talk and use her hands, and within a year she could no longer walk unaided.

You can read the full article which was published in the Newcastle Chronicle