Henry Thomas Engel Illness: What Did Richard Engel’s Son Suffer From?

Richard Engel’s son, Henry Engel suffered from Rett Syndrome before he died.

Rett Syndrome, is an uncommon brain disorder that causes slow development or loss of “purposeful use of the hands.

It is characterized by slow brain and head growth, difficulty in walking, seizures, and intellectual disability. The worst part of the illness is that it has no cure.

Henry passed away on August 18, 2022,  at the Texas Children’s Hospital.

Late Henry was born in 2015, and was diagnosed with slow development after a genetic scan. Doctors had said the disorder was as a result of a mutation in his MECEP2 gene.

His condition however grew worse as he developed dystonia along the line causing stiffness in his movements from time to time.

Henry had appeared on “Today” in 2018 with his parents to discuss the nature of the illness and potential of a possible cure in the future.

“No matter what’s coming, we want Henry to know he’s loved,” Richard Engel had said at the time.

Henry’s father, Richard Engel, has worked with the NBC since 2003 and rose through the ranks to attain the role of chief foreign correspondent five years after.