Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies at 22 from rare mitochondrial disease
Prince Frederik of Luxembourg died at 22 after years of struggling with the rare mitochondrial disease PolG, according to a statement issued by his parents, Prince Robert and Princess Julie, on Monday.
Prince Frederik of Luxembourg died on Feb. 28 from a rare mitochondrial disease, according to a statement issued over the weekend by his parents, Prince Robert and Princess Julie. He was 22.
Frederik was born with PolG disease, a genetic mitochondrial disorder that prevents the body’s cells from producing adequate energy, which in turn can cause multiple organ dysfunctions and failures. He was diagnosed with PolG at 14 years old, when his symptoms began showing more clearly, Prince Robert and Princess Julie said in the Saturday statement.
His father remembered him as his "Superhero."
"Frederik was born with a special capacity for positivity, joy, and determination," Robert said. "When he was little, I would always say that if there is one child of ours that I would never need to worry about, it was him. He has social skills like no other, an amazing sense of humour, an emotional intelligence and compassion that were off the charts, a sense of justice, fairness and decency that knows no bounds."
Robert said his son's usual Italian Duolingo and exercise alarm went off on Feb. 28, which was also Rare Disease Day, but it wasn't like any other day. The 22-year-old had been unwell and was barely able to speak for several days.
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