Parents

Denise Richards opens up about raising daughter with special needs

Mother of three Denise Richards has revealed that her youngest daughter, 7-year-old Eloise, has a chromosomal disorder.

In a new interview with People magazine, the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star explains the disorder “has caused a lot of developmental delays for her.”

“She wasn’t able to sit up on her own for a very long time, and she didn’t start walking until she was 2, and that was with physical therapy,” said Richards, 47.

According to the mag, Eloise suffers from a deletion in chromosome 8, a rare condition that affects various parts of the body. The severity of the condition varies from person to person.

“She can only say a handful of words and there are times when she feels like her age in understanding, and then other times where it feels she’s emotionally 3 years old,” Richards said. “It’s been challenging. I’m learning every day because they don’t really have a road map for her particular case.”

Richards, who wed Aaron Phypers in 2018, adopted Eloise in 2011 and has two daughters, 14-year-old Sam and 13-year-old Lola, with ex-husband Charlie Sheen.

Richards said, “Every child is different. You take care of your children no matter what is going on with them. I don’t know if [Eloise] is ever going to talk like a typical child. But as a parent, you want what’s best for your children, and you just do it.”