have you heard of rett syndrome? i hadn't until my niece courtney was diagnosed. rett syndrome is a neurological disorder which occurs mostly in girls. it is often misdiagnosed as autism or cerebral palsy. rett syndrome strikes without warning. a girl with rett syndrome starts out as a happy, healthy baby until 6 - 18 months of age. then something goes terribly wrong. she loses the ability to speak, use her hands to play with toys or even feed herself. she may also lose the ability to walk. a girl with rett syndrome makes constant hand-washing or handwringing movements. by the time she is 3 years old, a girl with rett syndrome is severely handicapped. the international rett syndrome foundation hopes to find the families affected by this devastating disorder and provide care and research that will make a difference. research is urgently needed to accelerate treatments and find a cure. please call 1-800-818-7388 or visit rettsyndrome.org today. your help is our hope.