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Denise Richards Breaks Down While Explaining the Rare Disorder That Affects Her Daughter, Eloise
"It was really hard," The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills mom says of getting the diagnosis.
Denise Richards adopted her 8-year-old daughter, Eloise, in 2011, joining daughters Sam and Lola (who she had with ex-husband Charlie Sheen). Eloise was later diagnosed with a rare disorder, Chromosome 8, Monosomy 8p, which has been emotional for the family, she explained on the first part of the The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion in the clip above.
"It's caused many delays with her and it's caused a lot with speech, development," Denise said. "We found out probably two years ago exactly. It was a very difficult thing to diagnose, she went through a lot. It was really hard when I saw what was written on the medical report to get the blood test and all the testing done. It was hard to see it in black and white, to be honest."
Denise got emotional as she continued: "It's just hard to see with your kid, you know?"
Chromosome 8, Monosomy 8p, results when a portion of the eighth chromosome is deleted. In many cases, there are growth delays during fetal development as well as after birth. The disorder can affect vital functions as well as cause abnormalities in the heart, among other effects. Monosomy 8p may also be characterized by delays in the acquisition of skills that require the coordination of mental and motor activities, such as growth and speech. According to reports in the medical literature, many affected children may have speech difficulties (as Denise explained).
"She can only say a handful of words, and there are times when she feels like her age in understanding, and then other times where it feels she’s emotionally 3 years old. It’s been challenging. I'm learning every day because they don't really have a road map for her particular case," Denise told PEOPLE earlier this year.
"You take care of your children no matter what is going on with them," she added. "I don’t know if [Eloise] is ever going to talk like a typical child. But as a parent, you want what’s best for your children, and you just do it."
