Yahoo News Emmerdale's Laura Norton and Mark Jordon discuss kids' rare genetic condition
Emmerdale's Laura Norton and Mark Jordon have opened up about their kids Ronnie and Jesse's Usher syndrome diagnosis.
A rare genetic condition with no cure, Usher syndrome affects hearing and night vision, with severe vision loss later in life. People with Usher syndrome type 1 also have balance issues.
"We've agonised about doing this before we've even told our children about their condition," Mark, who played Daz Spencer, told Hello!.
"But we would never forgive ourselves if we did nothing when we could be making changes that would help them and other children."
Related: Emmerdale's Laura Norton reflects on real-life romance with former co-star Mark Jordon
The couple first grew concerned about son Jesse's health when he failed standard hearing tests as a baby.
"My intuition told me there was a serious problem and I was in tears at the thought of it," revealed Laura, who plays Kerry Wyatt in the Yorkshire Dales soap.
However, they didn't discover that it was Usher syndrome until they were expecting their daughter Ronnie – informed during a medical assessment that they both carried the condition-causing gene.
Related: Emmerdale co-stars Laura Norton and Mark Jordon welcome baby girl
"Knowing that we'd passed this on to our son was heartbreaking," said Laura, who was subsequently told that her children will develop night blindness in their teens, before peripheral vision loss and tunnel vision.
"To watch our little boy enjoy the world around him yet know so much will be taken from him, was painful."
"Although it was devastating when Ronnie was diagnosed with the same condition as her brother, it was comforting that neither of them will go through this on their own, that they've got each other," reflected Mark.
"As they grow up, Jesse will be the best influence and support for her."
Such is their passion for raising awareness, Mark is set to enter Parliament later this week to campaign for funding.
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
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