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Coleen Rooney paid an emotional tribute to her late sister Rosie on the 12th anniversary of her death.
The WAG, 38, shared an adorable black and white snap on Sunday, marking more than a decade since her beloved younger sister died.
Rosie died in 2013 aged just 14 after her lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities.
Coleen took to Instagram to share a picture of herself grinning as she held her younger sister who looked at her and smiled.
She captioned the family photo simply: '12 years [red heart emoji]'.
The McLoughlins took Rosie in as a foster child when she was two and while they previously just provided respite care, the teen tragically passed away after being brought home to spend her final moments with her family.
Coleen Rooney, 38, paid an emotional tribute to her late sister Rosie on Sunday to mark the 12th anniversary of her death
Rosie died in 2013 aged just 14 after her lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities (pictured in 2006)
During her time on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in November, Coleen broke down in tears as she opened up about the loss of her little sister.
The emotional conversation began when Coleen's campmate, boxer Barry McGuigan, 63, broke down as he spoke about his late daughter Danika who lost her battle with cancer in 2019 aged 33.
Coleen then confided in Dean and Oti saying: 'Even when Rosie died, I kept it together for me mum and dad.'
She continued: 'She was 14 when she died, she'd be 26 now. It's hard to lose a child, I've always said that… so we're lucky to have what we've got.'
And after making the emotional confession in the Jungle, her camp mates once again rallied round the star and took to the comments underneath her Instagram post to show their support.
Alan Halsall posted a single red heart to mirror Coleen's, while Dean McCullough wrote: 'sending you love' with a string of heart emojis and Maura Higgens commented several red hearts as well.
The media personality has always been very open about her younger sister and last year spoke about how her family always knew 'Rosie was different'.
Coleen made the comment in her Wagatha Christie Disney+ documentary where she explained: 'When Rosie came along she was a massive part of our lives. She was the sister that I never thought I was going to have.'
During her time on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here in November, Coleen broke down in tears as she opened up about the loss of her little sister
And after making the emotional confession in the Jungle, her camp mates once again rallied round the star and took to the comments underneath her Instagram post to show their support
Speaking to her mother and her father Tony, she continued: 'I used to do her hair and used to love picking clothes with me mum for her. She brought that little bit extra to the house. We fell in love with her.'
Yet the family soon realised that Rosie was struggling with her development, and after a series of hospital tests she was diagnosed with Rett syndrome.
Coleen explained: 'Rosie, she struggled. She couldn't walk and talk and would be in pain and sick but she still put a smile on her face.
'Sometimes she used to force a laugh out. I think it was just to make my mum and dad happy.
'Gradually her brain wasn't functioning so she couldn't eat anymore, couldn't talk, move.'
Rosie needed 24-hour care and after suffering from 'lots of complications' and being admitted to intensive care, Colette revealed the family decided to bring her home to spend her final days surrounded by her loved ones.
'We had a sleepover, one last sleepover, all of us together,' she explained. 'And then we had a big party to celebrate her life.'
Breaking down in tears, Coleen said: 'To lose a child is the worst thing that could ever happen to anyone but when you look back now she gave us so many good years of happiness and love.'
The McLoughlins took Rosie in as a foster child when she was two and while they previously just provided respite care, the teen tragically passed away after being brought home to spend her final moments with her family
WHAT IS RETT SYNDROME? THE NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER THAT LEAVES KIDS UNABLE TO SPEAK, EAT, WALK, TALK AND BREATHE
One child in 12,000 is born with Rett Syndrome, yet few people have heard of it.
The genetic disorder affects almost exclusively females, causing them to regress neurologically and physically.
The progression of the disease can be roughly divided into four stages.
During the first stage, from about the age of six to 18 months, a baby slows in development, loses interest in play, stops making eye contact, starts walking awkwardly and makes repetitive hand movements.
The second stage, known as ‘rapid destruction’, begins between the ages of one and four.
The child finds it increasingly difficult to communicate and learn and there is often a deterioration in other brain functions.
Symptoms include an inability to control the hands, sudden distress teamed with screaming, unsteadiness, breathing problems, difficulty sleeping, slow head growth and digestive problems.
The third stage, the ‘plateau’, begins between age three and ten.
Limbs become floppy, epilepsy may develop and there may be weight loss and teeth-grinding.
However, many parents say children are less distressed and show more interest in their surroundings.
The final stage can last for decades. Usually severe bending of the spine – scoliosis – develops, as well as losing the ability to walk.
Almost all cases are caused by a mutation in the MECP2 gene which prevents nerve cells in the brain from working properly.
Currently there is no cure and only the symptoms are treated.
Around three quarters of sufferers will live into their 50s, according to Rett UK. The National Institute of Health says it's not possible to make reliable estimates about life expectancy beyond the age of 40.
According to Rettsyndrome.org, data from the Natural History Study have determined that a girl with Rett has a 100 per cent chance of reaching age 10, greater than 75 per cent chance of reaching age 30, and a greater than 50 per cent chance of reaching age 50.
But due to the rarity of Rett, very little has been published about life expectancy.
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