Little Mackenzie is truly one of a kind

Mackenzie, of Market Drayton, appears to be a boisterous healthy youngster, but his condition - triplication of the X chromosome - means that he has learning difficulties and he does not speak.

His mum Sharon today said she did not know what the future held for her little boy but remained hopeful that one day he would catch up with others of his age.

She said: "When he was born he couldn't eat very well. He was sick after every feed yet he was still putting weight on and was healthy but couldn't keep food down.

"After a couple of months, he couldn't pull himself up or do normal things babies of that age would do. Because he was a small baby we didn't think anything of it. We just thought he was slow with being small.

"We took him for his 12-month check-up and the only thing he could do was smile. They propped him up on cushions because he couldn't sit up.

"We then moved to Wiltshire and straight away the health visitor sensed something was wrong and got in touch with the paediatrician who did a blood test.

"It was discussed that it could be muscular dystrophy. That was a bit of a panic. You have to be a certain age to have the blood sample taken but the health visitor wanted it doing straight away and the paediatrician agreed. He had the blood sample taken and the results came back.

"After that he had a consultant for every part of his body. We used to go to seven or eight appointments a month to see different people.

"He has got low muscle tone which is why he was not feeding properly. He couldn't digest it, but a physio has worked on that.

"He started walking at two but that's the only progress he's had. He doesn't speak, he is still in nappies, but apart from that he is a healthy little boy, but with no communication.

She added: "He has got learning difficulties and behavioural problems. He's like a terrible two-year-old going through the stage of being naughty."

Mrs Fox-Byrne said they returned to Market Drayton about three years ago and Mackenzie now attends the Severndale Specialist School in Shrewsbury.

But she added the doctors simply did not know what was in store for her son. They are tracking his every move so maybe one day his story can help others born with the same condition.

She added: "I can't go to help groups and ask for advice because there is no-one.

"We just live day-to-day. He is healthy which is a good thing, we just have to watch him constantly. My hope is one day he will be alright and will catch up with other children."