Christine McGuinness: ‘Mummy’s going to change the world for you’
Christine McGuinness has revealed that her youngest daughter is autistic, just like her twins...
They’ve had ups and downs – and sadly, the road ahead for the McGuinness family looks no less challenging.
Model and on-off Real Housewives of Cheshire star Christine – who has been married to TV presenter Paddy since 2011 – took to Instagram to reveal that the couple’s youngest daughter, Felicity, three, has been diagnosed with the same condition as her siblings.
‘Recently our youngest daughter Felicity was also diagnosed with autism, three years after our twins Leo and Penelope were diagnosed. We are here to love and support our three extra special children and
I thank god every day these babies are mine. Proudest mummy.’
Autism, a developmental disorder characterised by difficulties with social interaction and communication and restricted and repetitive behaviour, is often spotted in the first few years of a child’s life.
Christine, 31, confessed, ‘Going through this journey again does still bring some heartache knowing all three children will face challenges and difficulties that others won’t. But I feel confident as a family we are in a much stronger place, we are able to use our knowledge as power...’
And she is clearly passionate about her little ones reaching their greatest potential. She shared a poem, including the lines, ‘I will never try and change you, you are perfect as you are. Mummy is going to change the world, to understand her superstars.
‘Leo, Penelope and Felicity, you are unaware of the positive impact you have, even on the tough days you always make me laugh. My trio, my babies, my fabulous three. Together we are a strong, proud, unique family.’
In 2018, Christine revealed that she and Paddy had suspicions that their then 18-monthold daughter had the same developmental disorder as her older siblings. Felicity, she said, would stand on her tip-toes, and preferred dried foods, both of which can be symptoms.
Speaking, emotionally, of their shock when Leo and Penelope were diagnosed, Paddy – whose ITV dating show Take Me Out was axed last week after 11 years – said, ‘Some days, it feels like you’re slowly drowning. When I hear the word “autism” I just feel so unhappy… I would give up everything to take this condition away from them.’
It must be heartbreaking, in so many little ways.
But with advocates like mum Christine and dad Paddy, you can be sure these adorable children will get the best start possible in life…
‘My trio, my babies. Together we are a strong, proud, unique family’