Coleen Rooney Recounts Childhood Coma and Sister's Battle with Rare Disorder

Coleen Rooney experienced a life-threatening brain disorder as a child that led to a coma and required her to relearn basic motor functions. Her mother, Colette McLoughlin, shared these details in the new docuseries, "The Real Rooneys."

McLoughlin recounted that at age three, Coleen became severely ill with encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain. "Her brain was swelling, she couldn't talk, she couldn't walk, she couldn't speak, she was stumbling her words," McLoughlin said tearfully in the series. "When we got to Alder Hey hospital she ended up in a coma... 24 hours [were] touch and go."

Following her recovery, Coleen had to relearn how to walk and regain her coordination. The experience profoundly impacted her parents, inspiring them to become foster and respite carers for children with special needs and disabilities.

This journey led them to adopt Rosie, Coleen's late sister, who had been placed with them as a foster child. Rosie lived with Rett syndrome, a rare genetic brain disorder that causes severe disabilities and requires extensive care. "We fell in love with her straight away," Coleen recalled in the docuseries. "She had a rare genetic disorder that needed a lot of care and attention."

The McLoughlin family cared for Rosie until her passing at age 14, just before her 15th birthday. At the time of her death, the family released a statement describing Rosie as "such a strong little girl and an inspiration to us all" who brought "so much love and happiness."

Coleen spoke about her sister's condition and the impact of her death, explaining that Rosie struggled with her development, including difficulties with walking, talking, and pain management. "Sometimes she used to force a laugh out. I think it was just to make my mum and dad happy," Coleen said, recalling her sister's resilience. "Gradually her brain wasn't functioning so she couldn't eat anymore, couldn't talk, move."

Rosie required 24-hour care, and after facing numerous complications and a period in intensive care, the family decided to bring her home to spend her final days together. "We had a sleepover, one last sleepover, all of us together," McLoughlin shared. "And then we had a big party to celebrate her life."

Coleen reflected that the experience of losing a child is devastating, but she cherishes the years of happiness and love Rosie brought to their lives. She also noted that the experiences have motivated her to use her platform to help children, particularly through her work with UNICEF, citing her "lot of experience of being around kids with different needs."

Encephalitis is described as an uncommon but serious condition involving brain inflammation that can be life-threatening. Symptoms can include confusion, seizures, changes in personality, and loss of consciousness, often requiring urgent hospital treatment. While it can be caused by viral infections, the exact cause is not always clear. Recovery varies depending on the cause, speed of treatment, and severity of the infection.