Tracey Harrington McCoy is a celebrity news writer at PEOPLE Digital. In 2020, Engel opened up about the realities of how the COVID-19 lockdown impacted Henry and their family. Thanks for contacting us. Published on August 18, 2022 11:33 AM. He would shake a little bit, she recalled. You see a child who is helpless and who is sweet, and hes connecting with you, but he really is suffering from this disease. He was 6 years old. [9], After graduating from Stanford, Engel left for Cairo, feeling the region was where the next big story would erupt. opened up on the "Today" show in Marchwith an emotional essay, NBC correspondent Richard Engel gets emotional after son with Rett Syndrome says 'Dada', 'Little People, Big World's Jeremy Roloff reveals he and wife Audrey are having a boy, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "It was a long time coming, which made it all the sweeter an unexpected reward," he wrote. Engel and Bush met privately in February 2007. [1] He was assigned to that position on April 18, 2008 after serving as the network's Middle East correspondent and Beirut bureau chief. His condition progressed and hes developed dystonia: uncontrolled shaking/ stiffness. "We lost our son, our Henry. Engel received the Medill Medal for Courage in Journalism for his report "War Zone Diary". "Dear Henry, you will be missed. "Researchers are making amazing progress using Henrys cells to help cure RETT Syndrome so others dont have to endure this terrible disease," Engel added on Thursday, sharing a link where donors could support research at the Texas Children's Hospital. This disorder, which has no cure, causes a progressive loss of motor skills and language. 13,615, This story has been shared 13,572 times. We always surrounded him with love and he returned it, and so much more. And with a smile. His sweet smile, hes so good. He doesn't sit up straight. "Sweet, beautiful, and determined. It is more often found in girls and there is no cure. On his tribute page, Henry is described as someone who "made the best of every single day and worked tirelessly in his many physical and developmental therapies.". He had the softest blue eyes, an easy smile and a. [14] He graduated from Stanford in 1996 with a B.A. The Duncan NRI's Founding Director Dr. Huda Zoghbi studied Henry's mutation closely. In a video that Engel shared on Twitter, his son Theo, 2, affectionately kissed Henry on the forehead as Henry lay in bed. ", Sophie Reardon is a News Editor at CBS News. He had the softest blue eyes, an easy smile and a contagious giggle. Theo appeared to ask before giving his big brother another kiss in the sweet moment. "Henry would have turned 7 today," Engel tweeted on Sept. 29. Terms of Use Engel and his wife are also parents to son Theo, whom they welcomed in August 2019. And neither did Henry. Dr. Zoghbi and Henry from a 2019 TODAY segment. In 2018, Engel recalled the shock of learning that his son will likely never be able to perform tasks such as walking or dressing himself. Richard Engel opens up about touching milestone for son who has Rett syndrome March 15, 2019 02:42 Engel also revealed in a first-person essay in March that Henry called him "Dada" for the first . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Then we realized it was a genetic condition, and hes not going to get over it.. His son Henry suffered from a devastating diagnosis of Rett Syndrome. Males are more likely to die from the illness. At the time, he added that Henry was "now home and getting love from brother Theo" after being hospitalized for six weeks. "Our son Henry was our everything," Engel said in a video about his son aired on TODAY. In 2018, Engel wrote an essay for TODAY about the heartbreak and hope that come with caring for a child with Rett syndrome. He had the softest blue eyes, an easy smile and a contagious giggle, the NBC News chief foreign correspondent tweeted Thursday morning. He never gave up.". She also shared the link to donate to support research in Henry's memory. His condition progressed and hes developed dystonia: uncontrolled shaking/ stiffness. The syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with no known cure that prevented Henry from developing in the long term. But he did it. The fundraiser page notes that Henry died on Aug. 9, 2022. I got some books, and the smiles I got from him he was happy, she said. Legal Statement. [10][11] He then spent his junior year of high school in Italy and became fluent in Italian. ", "His loving and endearing smile, and the way he connected with his eyes, stole my heart from the time I met him," Zoghbi said in a statement. Richard Engel's son Henry dead at age 6 after battling neurological disorder By Francesca Bacardi August 18, 2022 | 11:34am Richard Engel announced the heartbreaking news that his son. And Henry could still help Zoghbi give these patients and their families what theyve been waiting for. IE 11 is not supported. A big thank you to everyone who sent kind and thoughtful messages, and donated to support medical research to defeat Rett Syndrome. His loving and endearing smile, and the way he connected with his eyes, stole my heart from the time I met him. In March 2011, Engel was caught in an artillery strike while interviewing fighters during a rebel advancement towards former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces outside the city of Ajdabiya. We will continue to push as hard as possible to develop treatments. ", In another tweet on Thursday, Engel said: "Researchers are making amazing progress using Henry's cells to help cure RETT Syndrome so others don't have to endure this terrible disease. Richard Engel Says His Son Henry Has 'Taken a Turn for the Worse' Due to Rare Neurological Disorder, Savannah Guthrie Posts Beautiful Tribute to Richard Engel and Wife Mary After Son Henry's Death, Richard Engel Honors Late Son Henry on His 7th Birthday, Gives 'Big Thank You' for Support, Everything Richard Engel Said About 'Beloved' Son's Journey with Rett Syndrome Before His Death, Hoda Kotb Gets Emotional as She Shares Tribute After 'Heartbreaking' Death of Richard Engel's Son, Richard Engel Celebrates Son's 5th Birthday, Shares Message to All Kids with Rett Condition, Richard Engel Reveals Coronavirus Lockdown Has Been a 'Nightmare' for Son with Rett Syndrome, Richard Engel's Younger Son, 1, Takes His First Steps as Big Brother Henry Is 'Cheering' Him On, Richard Engel's Wife Mary Pens Essay About 6-Year-Old Son Henry's Death: 'One Last Goodbye', Richard Gere's 3 Children: Everything to Know, Recovering from Multiple Seizures and Autoimmune Encephalitis, Texas Boy Hopes to Go to 2nd Grade in Person, How This Mother Went to Extremes to Help Her Mentally Ill Son: 'He Knows He's Locked up Because of Mom', NFL Sportscaster and Former Player Irv Cross Had Stage 4 CTE, New Findings Show, Colin Farrell's 2 Sons: Everything to Know, How Bruce Willis' Family Is Helping Him 'Live as Full a Life as Possible' After Dementia Diagnosis, Emily Maynard Johnson Shares Sweet Photos of Baby Jones Wearing New Personalized Cranial Helmet, revealing that "school was the only place where. 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All Rights Reserved, Nick Cannon celebrates Jada Pinkett Smith's 'Red Table Talk' cancellation: 'Good', Chance the Rapper's wife posts cryptic quote after his dance with another woman, Meghan Trainor 'can't walk' after 'nightmare' sex with 'big boy' Daryl Sabara, Famed New York socialite Patty Raynes found dead in her Palm Beach home, New photo of Meghan Markle that she 'never wanted the world to see', Michael J. We always surrounded him with love and he returned it, and so much more," Engel wrote alongside a sweet photo of his son. Engel opened up on the "Today" show in Marchwith an emotional essayabout his first son, Henry, finally saying "Dada" after being diagnosedwith Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder that leads to severe physical and cognitive impairments. Through a genetic test, doctors learned he had a mutation to his MECP2 gene. 13,572, This story has been shared 12,221 times. "A single devastating typo in his genetic code robbed him of the ability to walk, talk and control his body. 2022, NY Press Club Awards, Documentary National TV & Feature Reporting National TV. [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. Engel and his wife, Mary Forrest, have been candid about their sons diagnosis. On Monday, the NBC News chief foreign correspondent shared a sweet video of the moment his youngest son took his first steps. [12] Engel began to appreciate the difference in cultures and countries that influenced his future career choices. "We don't want anyone else to go through this. Georgia Slater. Nope, none. He couldnt speak, but he was young. He didnt always respond as they expected, but the excitement in his eyes told them he enjoyed and appreciated it. Another standout moment from her time with Henry was one of his birthdays. [50] In April 2013, Engel recounted his experience in a Vanity Fair editorial, titled "The Hostage". Many of Engels colleagues, including Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, honored the young boys sweet spirit following his tragic death. His cells are being used in cutting-edge research. We gather on our bed several times a day for what we call 'cuddle parties,' where we kiss him, rub him, praise him (he loves to hear his name and be praised) and curl his thick, gorgeous hair in our fingers," he wrote at the time. "Our beloved son Henry. To parents with typically developing children, a little Dada may not seem like a big deal. Thanks for contacting us. David Rutz is a senior editor at Fox News. "He had the softest blue eyes, an easy smile and a contagious giggle. ", Richard Engel Honors Late Son Henry on His 7th Birthday, Gives 'Big Thank You' for Support, Richard Engel's Wife Mary Pens Essay About 6-Year-Old Son Henry's Death: 'One Last Goodbye', Hoda Kotb Gets Emotional as She Shares Tribute After 'Heartbreaking' Death of Richard Engel's Son, Richard Engel Announces Death of 'Beloved' 6-Year-Old Son Henry, Everything Richard Engel Said About 'Beloved' Son's Journey with Rett Syndrome Before His Death, Savannah Guthrie Posts Beautiful Tribute to Richard Engel and Wife Mary After Son Henry's Death, Richard Engel Says His Son Henry Has 'Taken a Turn for the Worse' Due to Rare Neurological Disorder, Richard Engel Celebrates Son's 5th Birthday, Shares Message to All Kids with Rett Condition, Richard Engel Reveals Coronavirus Lockdown Has Been a 'Nightmare' for Son with Rett Syndrome, Richard Engel's Younger Son, 1, Takes His First Steps as Big Brother Henry Is 'Cheering' Him On, Gilbert Gottfried's Widow Dara Remembers Late Comedian, 1 Year After His Death (Exclusive), 6-Year-Old Enjoys Fundraiser for Her Rare Disease: I Wore 'a Unicorn Onesie and Butterfly Wings! Studying [Henrys] cells helped us to think a little differently, to find yet one more approach for developing therapies for Rett, she said. [17], In 2009, Engel was stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan, covering the country's August presidential election. And now Henry is a big brother, too.". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Richard Engel announced the heartbreaking news that his son Henry has died after a battle with Rett syndrome. Henry, whom Richard shares with his wife Mary, died on Aug. 9, according to a memorial page on the Texas Children's Hospital website. "But for me it was a validation, an acknowledgement that hes in there, knows me, knows that his mother and I are forces for good in his life, and above all, that he loves us.". However, his son Henry suffers from a devastating diagnosis of Rett Syndrome. [18], In 2011, Engel reported, at times through tear gas, on the Egyptian revolution. Fox says Parkinson's battle getting 'harder': 'I'm not gonna be 80', Padma Lakshmi claps back at trolls: 'I have boobs, I have nipples', Kendall Jenner rocks sheer top, fur mini skirt for date night with Bad Bunny, Miley Cyrus mom, Tish Cyrus, engaged to Prison Break star Dominic Purcell, Fans confused over Lala Kent, Ariana Madixs White House dinner appearance, Woman has 'loud and full body orgasm' during LA Philharmonic concert. It was really amazing watching them work as a team, Zoghbi said. Richard and Mary Engel, with son Henry on "TODAY" on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. "No matter what's coming, we want Henry to know he's loved," Richard Engel said in the segment. "His quiet fight against this terrible disease was incredible. In the later essay, Engel shared that he "finally got a 'Dada'" from his son. [79][80], "About us: Richard Engel - NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent", "Seven-Pakistani journalists honoured at Newseum memorial re-dedication", "In Iraq, Journalist Richard Engel Sticks to the Story", "High Achieving Dyslexics: Richard Engel", "High Achieving Dyslexics: Richard Engel, Journalist", "Richard Engel on Finding Success With Dyslexia", "Success Stories: Richard Engel, Chief Foreign Correspondent for NBC News", "Richard Engel, Chief Foreign Correspondent for NBC News", "Richard Engel: Covering War for a Decade", "Nominees for the 32nd Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards Announced by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences", "Ukraine: Freedom or Death Putin Invades Ukraine", "Special Program: Journalists Memorial Rededication Ceremony", "Book Discussion on War Journal: My Five Years in Iraq", "Richard Engel Reports: Tip of the Spear", "Will Election Help Women in Afghanistan? Henry Engel is the first of the 2 children of journalists Richard Engel and Mary Forrest The years old was . Richard Engel opens up about touching milestone for son who has Rett syndrome. Our beloved son Henry passed away. In a 2019 essay about his family, the proud father gushed about an important milestone Henry had just met. [31] He spent years covering what he often describes as one of the most important stories of his generation, the Iraq War. "Our beloved son Henry passed away. "His loving and endearing smile, and the way he connected with his eyes, stole my heart from the time I met him. Richard Engel announced on social media that his 6-year-old son Henry Engel has died after an aggressive battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder. Researchers are making amazing progress using Henrys cells to help cure RETT Syndrome so others dont have to endure this terrible disease, Engel continued in a follow-up tweet, providing a link to Texas Childrens Hospital, which is fundraising for the cause. Learning to take a few steps in his walker and communicating with cards and a computer.". For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 2019, Edward R Murrow Award for Continuing Coverage, Network News. Richard Engel is trying to find the good on a very sad day. NBC News chief foreign correspondent Richard Engel announced Thursday that his son Henry, 6, has died. ", "We have a vendetta against the syndrome and we want to cure it," Forrest said about the disease. I cant imagine a child who is showered with more love. Engel also provided a link tothe Texas Childrens Hospital, which is fundraising for the cause. Richard Engel on how son Henrys legacy will aid search for cure, according to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation, according to the National Institutes of Health, his condition started to worsen a few months. [4] His older brother, David, is a cardiologist at New YorkPresbyterian Hospital. NBC News presenter Richard Engel has penned a tender tribute to his young son, a month on from his tragic death at six years old. Engel told PEOPLE in 2019 that Henry was "lacking a conductor gene" and that a medical team at Texas Children's Hospital was "trying to build a treatment that could help immensely.". The interview also focused on Iran's empowerment as a result of the war in Iraq and how to counteract Iran's influence in the region. In fact, Dr. Hoda Zogby, who discovered the genetic cause of Rett Syndrome, believes Henry's cells hold the secrets to finding a cure. Soon after sharing the first video, Engel tweeted another sweet photo of Henry sitting up and looking at the camera. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He just will smile and light up your day.. He can't feed himself efficiently. Please enter valid email address to continue. [3] He speaks and reads Arabic fluently and is fluent in Italian and Spanish. After a series of medical exams and a genetic test, doctors discovered that he had a mutation in his MECP2 gene. In April 2008, Engel became Chief Foreign Correspondent of NBC News. Nonetheless, he interacts . Reach her at sophie.reardon@viacomcbs.com, First published on August 18, 2022 / 1:26 PM. [51], Engel's account was however challenged from early on, with Jamie Dettmer of The Daily Beast citing unnamed sources, who believed Engel and his team had been kidnapped by rogue rebel groups opposed to Assad. The kids would come up and kiss him, tussle his hair and bring him toys, Engel shared. He had the softest blue eyes, an easy smile and a contagious giggle. At the time, he was 3 1/2 years old and hadnt called Engel Dada yet. "But he will always be with us, even now he's hard at work to help other children whose lives are more difficult than they should be. He explains the conflict as occurring in six stages, or as six separate wars: Engel received a request from the Bush administration to meet with President George W. Bush at the White House to discuss Iraq and Mideast policy. This story has been shared 13,615 times. He was almost 7 years old," Engel said. Market data provided by Factset. He was born in the United States on September 16, 1973, in New York City. He was so happy and active. 12,221, This story has been shared 9,366 times. Here's how. RELATED: Doctor of Richard Engels late son Henry reflects on time with him: He has this smile. So when he heard that sweet word come out of his son's mouth, it was a moment Engel will never forget. [25] Engel's latest documentary, Ukraine: Freedom or Death [26] aired on April 22, 2022 and covered the first two months of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. ", RELATED VIDEO: Richard Engel Announces Death of 'Beloved' 6-Year-Old Son Henry. So if its not functioning at 100% capacity maybe its functioning at 40% capacitymaybe if we can increase the amount of the protein, maybe that will get us to help some of the symptoms., [Henry] became a driving force in the lab because the lab members met him and knew him and played with him, she added. "His condition progressed and he's developed dystonia: uncontrolled shaking/ stiffness.". Youre my heroes," she wrote. He had a lot of different weaknesses in his motor system.. or redistributed. While many other children suffer from Rett Syndrome, Henry had a specific genetic mutation never seen before. Henry would have turned 7 today, Engel, 49, tweeted Thursday, alongside a photo of Henry. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Henry Engel died in August 2022 at the age of six. "Our beloved son Henry passed away. Because of Henrys unique mutation, Zoghbis team is using Henrys cells in ongoing research. [36] Engel's award-winning documentary, War Zone Diary, chronicled the everyday realities of covering the war in Iraq. Henry Engel Died At The Age Of 6. Richard and Mary Engel, with son Henry on Wednesday, October 3, 2018. Most Facebook users can now claim settlement money. Longtime NBC News foreign correspondent Richard Engel announced Thursday that his 6-year-old son Henry had died after a lifelong battle with a rare brain disorder. That would be [Henrys] legacy.. I worked 16 years to find the (MECP2) gene. In the touching video Engel shared, his son Theo, who will turn 3 in August, gives Henry kisses as he lies in bed. Engel has shared updates on Henry over the years, writing essays in 2018 and 2019 about both the joys and heartbreaks the family experienced. Richard Engel paid tribute to his late son, Henry, who would have turned 7 years old on Thursday. Richard's age is 48.He has short brown hair and brown eyes, his height is 6ft (1.85m) and he weighs around 175lbs (80kgs). "He continues to be an inspiration for Dr. Zoghbi and her team as they work to find effective treatments for Rett syndrome, and they already are making significant progress with Henrys own cells," the post says. His muscles are moving. He was in the hospital for 6 weeks, but is now home and getting love from brother Theo, he shared. Engel, 48, shared earlier this summer that Henrys condition took a turn for the worse after developing dystonia, a movement disorder in which your muscles contract involuntarily, causing repetitive or twisting movements, per the Mayo Clinic. [52] In April 2015, NBC had to revise the kidnapping account, following further investigations by The New York Times, who had conducted several dozen interviews, suggesting that the NBC team "was almost certainly taken by a Sunni criminal element affiliated with the Free Syrian Army," rather than by a loyalist Shia group. "He had . in international relations. "To parents with typically developing children, a little Dada may not seem like a big deal. That would be a dream. NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel announced Thursday that his son Henry, 6, has died. Engel announced the death of Henry in August after his years-long battle with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological disorder. Henry lost his life to Rett syndrome and we want it gone. Special needs kids have the most expressive eyes..
