"We Can Save Him": Swansea Mum Breaks Hearts Sharing Son Tate's Battle With Childhood Dementia

• A Swansea mother shared an emotional video of her five-year-old son Tate, who was diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome Type A, a rare form of childhood dementia
• Tate's mother explained that without treatment, he will progressively lose his mobility, speech and all other abilities he currently has
• The family is racing to raise over £1.5 million for a life-changing gene therapy that could stop the disease in its tracks

A Swansea mother has moved thousands of people online after sharing the heartbreaking reality of raising a son with a rare and terminal brain condition.

The woman behind the Instagram account @savingtate1 posted an emotional video montage showing her son Tate at various stages of his young life, from newborn hospital shots to beach outings and garden play. The clips paint a picture of a lively, active little boy. Her voiceover, however, reveals a deeply painful truth.

Tate, who is five years old, has been diagnosed with Sanfilippo syndrome Type A, a severe and rare inherited condition that causes progressive brain damage. The condition is caused by a missing enzyme that cannot break down a natural sugar the body produces. Over time, that sugar builds up in cells, damaging the brain and organs and stripping children of the abilities they once had.

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What Sanfilippo Syndrome means for Tate

Tate is currently non-verbal, and his mother described his mobility as the one thing she is fighting hardest to protect. She told her followers that some medical professionals have said he is doing well for his age, but that the clock is always ticking.

Without intervention, children with Sanfilippo syndrome face a shortened life expectancy, typically into their mid-teens or twenties. There is currently no approved cure.

Tate's mother is pinning her hopes on a treatment called UX111, a one-time gene therapy injection administered directly to the brain. If successful, it would give Tate a working enzyme capable of breaking down the sugar his body cannot currently process, potentially halting the progression of the disease.

The cost of saving Tate

The treatment costs more than £1.5 million (around R32 million). Through the charity Just4Children, the campaign has already raised some funds before the campaign officially launched. While that figure is significant, there is still a long road ahead.

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Tate's mother said she cannot do it alone and called on anyone watching to share the story, tag others and help push it further.

"With an army of you guys, I'm hopeful that we can save my son's life," she said.

She described herself simply as a solo parent doing everything she can to give her child a chance at a future the disease is trying to take away.

Watch the video that has broken hearts across the internet here.

More heartbreaking health stories

• Briefly News recently reported on an 18-year-old who collapsed with alarming symptoms after her family initially feared she had been bitten by a snake.
• In another heartbreaking story, Springboks legend Piet du Plessis died at 79 after a long battle with Alzheimer's and dementia, leaving the rugby world mourning a beloved figure.
• Meanwhile, Orlando Pirates midfielder Sihle Nduli faces an uncertain return after the club revealed a worrying injury setback following a horrific challenge.

Source: Briefly News