'Mama': Pioneering genomics helps Mary-Ann to speak

A little girl has spoken for the first time in four years thanks to cutting-edge genomic research. Her first word was “mama”.

Mary-Ann Cleary, now aged eight, has progressive dystonia, a very rare disease that causes painful seizing of the muscles. In Mary-Ann’s case, the disease progressed to a point where she was unable to move or speak and had become critically ill.

Consultant neurologist at Temple Street Children’s University Hospital, Prof Mary King, said Mary-Ann first came with her parents from Britain for a second opinion in 2014.