Henry Engel Cause Of Death: What Happened To Richard Engel’s son?

Henry Engel, the son of NBC News foreign correspondent Richard Engel, passed away on August 18, 2022,  after a lifelong battle with Rett Syndrome.

“Our beloved son Henry passed away. He had the softest blue eyes, an easy smile and a contagious giggle. We always surrounded him with love and he returned it, and so much more”, Richard Engel wrote on Twitter.

Rett Syndrome, is an uncommon brain disorder that causes slow development or loss of “purposeful use of the hands.

It is characterized by slow brain and head growth, difficulty in walking, seizures, and intellectual disability. The worst part of the illness is that it has no cure.

“Researchers are making amazing progress using Henry’s cells to help cure RETT Syndrome so others don’t have to endure this terrible disease,” Engel added, while sharing a link for public donations towards research at the Texas Children’s Hospital.

Late Henry was born in 2015, and was diagnosed with slow development after a genetic scan. Doctors had said the disorder was as a result of a mutation in his MECEP2 gene.

His condition however grew worse as he developed dystonia along the line causing stiffness in his movements from time to time.

Henry had appeared on “Today” in 2018 with his parents to discuss the nature of the illness and potential of a possible cure in the future.

“No matter what’s coming, we want Henry to know he’s loved,” Richard Engel had said at the time.

Henry’s father, Richard Engel, has worked with the NBC since 2003 and rose through the ranks to attain the role of chief foreign correspondent five years after.