article_snippet: But at the age of just one, Zach Parnaby bright future was cruelly cast into doubt when doctors diagnosed the toddler with a crippling genetic disease.
article_snippet: The condition, known as Krabbe Luekodystrophy, which affects one in 100,000 people across the world, will cause Christmas Zach's to gradually lose the ability to walk, talk, see or hear.
article_snippet: When Christmas Zach's was just 17 months old, doctors diagnosed Zach Parnaby, pictured with Christmas Zach's mother Lindsey, with the rare genetic Krabbes disease, which will gradually cause the toddler to lose the ability to walk and talk .
article_snippet: The doctors told we Zach may have between 18 months and four years.'
article_snippet: They suspected Zach was going through a 'phase', but a month later Zach condition appeared to be deteriorating and reaching a the point where Zach could only crawl.
article_snippet: The toddler was referred to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, where on Christmas Eve a specialist revealed Zach was seriously ill.
article_snippet: Mrs Parnaby said up to the point where doctors diagnosed Krabbes disease, Zach was a 'normal' baby, going to play group three times a week. '
highlights_snippet: Zach Parnaby has been diagnosed with the genetic illness, Krabbe disease .
  