Inside Coleen Rooney's relationship with little sister Rosie: From caring for foster sibling during brain disorder battle to WAG's pilgrimages to pray for healing miracle

Coleen Rooney became emotional on Monday, as she opened up to her campmate about the tragic loss of her little sister Rosie on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

The WAG, 38, spoke to her campmates about Rosie, who tragically pᴀssed away in 2013 aged 14 after a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities.

Following boxer Barry McGuigan tears as he spoke about the loss of his daughter Danika from cancer in 2019 aged 33, Coleen could be seen struggling with her own feelings of grief.

Confiding in Dean McCullough and Oti Mabuse, she said: ‘I don’t usually get worked up. It takes me a lot. Even when Rosie died, I kept it together for me mum and dad.’

She went on: ‘When you’re away and in different environments, it’s when you’ve got time to stop and think. Rosie’s anniversary is January.’

Coleen added: ‘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.’

Coleen Rooney became emotional on Monday, as she opened up to her campmate about the tragic loss of her little sister Rosie on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

The WAG, 38, spoke to her campmates about Rosie, who tragically pᴀssed away in 2013 aged 14 after a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare brain disorder that causes severe disabilities (pictured together)

Following boxer Barry McGuigan tears as he spoke about the loss of his daughter Danika from cancer in 2019 aged 33, Coleen could be seen struggling with her own feelings of grief

The TV personality grew up caring for her younger sister, after her family took Rosie in as a foster child when she was two years old.

In her early 20s, Coleen made two pilgrimages – in 2008 and 2010 – to Lourdes, France, to pray for a healing miracle for Rosie.

Lourdes is one of the most revered sites for Roman Catholics because it is said to have been where a 14-year-old peasant girl called Bernadette Soubirous was said to have seen an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1858.

Some six million pilgrims visit Lourdes annually, many to bathe in the grotto’s normally tranquil spring waters that are said to be healing and pray for miracles at its altar.

In emotional scenes from her Disney+ series about the Wagatha Christie scandal last year, Coleen broke down in tears speaking about her late sibling.

She explained that her family had previously just provided respite care, but it soon became clear that ‘Rosie was different’.

She recalled: ‘When Rosie came along she was a mᴀssive part of our lives. She was the sister that I never thought I was going to have.’

Speaking to her mother Colette and father Tony, Coleen 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.’

The TV personality grew up caring for her younger sister, after her family took Rosie in as a foster child when she was two years old (pictured)

In her early 20s, Coleen made two pilgrimages – in 2008 and 2010 – to Lourdes, France, to pray for a healing miracle for Rosie (pictured in 2010 with husband Wayne)

In emotional scenes from her Disney+ series about the Wagatha Christie scandal last year, Coleen broke down in tears speaking about her late sibling (pictured)

Coleen marked the 11th anniversary of Rosie’s death at the start of the year, sharing sweet pH๏τos of her teenage sister with her eldest son Kai, 15, and telling her she her she ‘loved her to the moon and back’

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.

WHAT IS RETT SYNDROME?

One child in 12,000 is born with Rett Syndrome – a genetic disorder that 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 repeтιтive hand movements.

The second stage, known as ‘rapid destruction’, begins between one and four and sees the child finding it increasingly difficult to communicate and learn, with there often being 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 can develop and there may be weight loss and teeth-grinding.

The final stage can last for decades and usually sees severe bending of the spine (scoliosis), 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. The National Insтιтute of Health say it’s not possible to make reliable estimates about life expectancy beyond the age of 40.

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.’

Revealing the impact Rosie’s death has had on her 10 years on, Coleen explained: ‘because of the things that have happened in my life, I try to be strong for others.

‘I don’t want people worrying about me when there’s other things going on in their life but sometimes I can crack.’

Colette went on to suggest that her daughter didn’t fully process the pain she’d been through until she found herself in America when Wayne transferred to D.C United.

She explained: ‘It’s been 10 years now and Coleen she never spoke about it much. In America she had a lot of time so she must have done a lot of thinking then.

‘But she hides a lot so it’s hard to say what is going on in her mind.’

Coleen marked the anniversary of Rosie’s death at the start of the year, with a moving tribute.

She took to her Instagram to share a slew of sweet photos of her teenage sister with her eldest son Kai, 15, who was born in 2009.

She told her late sibling she ‘loved her to the moon and back’ as she marked 11 years since her devastating death.

Coleen captioned the post: ’11 years without you. We love and miss you always Rosie Mc.’

I’M A CELEBRITY 2024: MEET THE ALL STAR LINE UP

OTI MABUSE

Oti Mabuse has already two Strictly glitterballs under her belt

AGE: 34

OCCUPATION: Professional dancer

FAMOUS FOR: Oti is best known for being a professional dancer on the British television series Strictly Come Dancing, which she won in 2019 and 2020.

DANNY JONES

Danny Jones is one of the bookies’ favourites to win this year’s I’m A Celeb

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: McFly singer

FAMOUS FOR: Danny is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly.

He is also a coach on The Voice UK.

BARRY MCGUIGAN

Former boxer Barry McGuigan is heading into the jungle

AGE: 63

OCCUPATION: Retired professional boxer

FAMOUS FOR: Barry was nicknamed The Clones Cyclone and held the WBA and lineal featherweight тιтles from 1985 to 1986.

GK BARRY

GK Barry is a TikTok star who recently joined the ITV family on Loose Women

AGE: 25

OCCUPATION: TikTok star

FAMOUS FOR: Grace is known for her comedic commentary on culture, lifestyle, and fashion. She has over 3.6 million followers and recently joined the Loose Women panel.

DEAN MCCULLOUGH

ITV bosses are hoping Dean McCullough will ruffle feathers in the camp

AGE: 32

OCCUPATION: Radio 1 DJ

FAMOUS FOR: Radio 1 DJ Dean has been signed by I’m A Celeb bosses, in the hope that he will ruffle feathers with his outspoken views.

Earlier this year it was announced Dean would be taking over the BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast Show, after previously fronting the afternoon slot.

JANE MOORE

Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women

AGE: 62

OCCUPATION: Journalist

FAMOUS FOR: Jane is best known as a panellist and anchor of Loose Women between 1999 and 2002.

She returned as a regular panellist from 2013 onwards.

Jane takes on the challenge following her high-profile split from husband of 20 years, Showbiz agent, Gary Farrow.

MELVIN ODOOM

Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021

AGE: 44

OCCUPATION: DJ and TV presenter

FAMOUS FOR: His work on radio. Melvin was previously courted by I’m A Celeb bosses back in 2021, but turned down the offer at the last minute.

He also had a primetime stint on Strictly back in 2016.

COLEEN ROONEY

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history

AGE: 38

OCCUPATION: WAG

FAMOUS FOR: Wagatha Christie case against arch rival Rebekah Vardy.

Reports claim that she has been offered the biggest deal in the show’s history, exceeding Nigel Farage’s £1.5million from last year.

ALAN HALSALL

Alan Halsall is best known for his role as Tyrone Dobbs on Coronation Street

AGE: 42

OCCUPATION: Actor

FAMOUS FOR: Coronation Street actor Alan Halsall was forced to withdraw from I’m A Celeb last year, after undergoing ACL Reconstruction surgery.

Bosses have now convinced the actor to sign up again, and no doubt he will draw in a huge fanbase thanks to his long-running role as Tyrone Dobbs on the soap.

TULISA