Learning that your daughter has Rett Syndrome is unimaginably devastating.

Rett Syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects seemingly healthy little girls, striking around the time of their first birthday and ending their parents’ hopes and dreams for their future.

Rett affects nearly every aspect of these girls’ lives, taking away their ability to walk, talk and use their hands. Many girls have problems with breathing and eating. Many also have seizures.

Research has shown that girls with Rett do not have brain damage. They know and understand much more than their bodies allow them to show – but they are locked in, trapped by a body that cannot obey signals from their brain.

Rett Syndrome is caused by a spontaneous genetic mutation, and can occur in any family at any time. It affects around 1 in 10,000 girls.

But there is hope.

In 1999 scientists found the genetic mutation that causes Rett Syndrome. In 2007 they unexpectedly reversed the condition in mouse models of late-stage disease.

Scientists believe that Rett Syndrome could be the world’s first curable brain disorder.

There is only one road to treatment and an eventual cure: research.

Researchers are focused on three things:

Treating the symptoms of Rett,

Increasing levels of the protein MeCP2

Finding a way to bypass the need for MeCP2.

Treatment is possible. Continuing research depends on continuing funding.

So please dig deep and donate now.