A toddler has been given a devastating diagnosis after his mum noticed some of his teeth were missing.
Georgia Hughes, from Holywell, took her three-year-old son Myles Tucker to the doctor after becoming concerned about his missing teeth.
After being referred for tests, she was given the devastating news that her "sweet and beautiful" little boy was living with 4H leukodystrophy - a rare condition that affects only 120 children worldwide.
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Georgia told North Wales Live how the genetic disorder, which affects the nervous system, is so rare that her son's case is only the third to be identified in Wales. There is currently no cure, but supportive treatment is available.
The condition is almost invisible to the naked eye - but there are some signs that can be spotted in infants.
"I first noticed that he had some missing teeth," said Georgia "I brought this up with his paediatrician and she referred us to Alder Hey and it was there he was diagnosed with hypodontia - which is collectively part of the leukodystrophy."
The abnormal development or lack of teeth is just one of three key signs of the illness.
Hypomyelination - which means that a "brain cover" has not properly developed - is another, but Myles, who turned three in September, had two MRI scans to confirm this in his case.
The third sign is "atypically delayed puberty" - but this obviously cannot be picked up until the child would expect to experience those bodily changes.
Georgia said: "Myles is such a sweet and beautiful boy. He absolutely loves pre-school and this condition just doesn't stop him.
"He's full of determination and always has a smile on his face."
She added that she hoped that speaking out would help make other parents aware of the signs to look for in this rare condition.
"The general life expectancy is ten years for a child with leukodystrophy. He'll need more professional care and support coming into his life as he grows up," she said.
"As the disease progresses we'll need to keep an eye out for things like swallowing difficulties. These are things that are yet to happen but we've been told they can occur.
"I hope that by making more people aware of this condition we can help others understand it and know what to look out for."
Georgia has set up a fundraising page with the hopes of funding a cure for this illness - which you can find here.
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