Imagine if your healthy 16-month-old son went to sleep one night and woke the next day unable to speak. That’s just what happened to youngster, Ross Griffiths - he spent the next three-and-a-half years trying to claw back his communication skills.
He’s just been diagnosed with a genetic condition so unusual, it doesn’t even have a “proper” name. Instead it’s called 15q11.2.
But on Saturday, mum Becky Lane and dad Craig Griffiths hope he’ll forget his communication problems with a visit to the Santa who does sign language.
Like many people, Ross was enchanted when he saw the video of Middlesbrough’s Cleveland Centre Santa signing with three-year-old Mali Williams Cody.
And it so inspired him, Ross who is usually too shy to use his sign language away from school or home - told his parents he wanted to sign with Santa too.
Becky, 28, of Roseberry Road, Redcar, says it’s been a rollercoaster ride since that fateful night in 2012.
“At 16 months old, he went to bed fine, said ‘night night’, went to sleep and when he woke up next morning, he couldn’t talk," Becky said.
“He always used to shout for mum and dad when he woke up but that morning, he couldn’t and he just cried and cried.
“He physically couldn’t tell us anything - it was heartbreaking.
"He used to bang his head because he got so frustrated when he couldn’t tell us what he wanted.”
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