Denise Richards opens up about 'challenges' and 'worries' of parenting a child with special needs
Actress and model Denise Richards has heaped praise on her youngest daughter Eloise, gushing over the teenager for being the "biggest angel with the biggest selfless heart" on her 15th birthday, and the star admitted it is "more challenging" raising a child with special needs as she gets older.
Denise Richards has praised her youngest daughter as the "biggest angel with the biggest selfless heart" on her 15th birthday, but admitted she "worries" about her future.
The former James Bond star, 54, has gushed over her daughter Eloise, who was diagnosed with a chromosomal disorder during her younger years, and admitted raising a child with special needs feels "more challenging" the older she becomes.
Denise wrote on Instagram: "Wishing my beautiful Eloise Happy 15th Birthday! I can’t believe 15 yrs old already. Having a special needs child in a lot of ways gets more challenging with me worrying more about her future the older she gets. My mom always had said, a special needs child is an angel from God and Eloise is the biggest Angel with the biggest selfless heart. (sic)"
Denise feels "so grateful" for Eloise's sisters, Sami, 22, and Lola, 20 - who Denise has with her actor ex Charlie Sheen - and she also praised her dad, Irv Richards, for being a "father figure" for the 15 year old.
She added: "I’m so proud of her strength and kindness. I’m so grateful for her older sisters, my friends who are my family, and my dad who is the best Grandpa father figure for Eloise. Always there for her, no matter what. We [love emoji] you girlie! Happy birthday weezy. (sic)"
Denise played KPop Demon Hunters track Golden over her Instagram post, which featured a montage of Eloise and her loving family, and she admitted the teenager - who was also brought up by the actress' ex Aaron Phypers, who Denise was married to from 2018 to 2025 - "loves" the song.
Last year, former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Denise told how Eloise has taught her family to appreciate the "simplest things" in life.
Speaking to People magazine, she said: "It's the best. Eloise is a bright light.
"She is always happy. Everyone loves being around her. The girls are so amazing with her. They feel that I had her, that's their sister. So they have a wonderful relationship with her.
"She just loves everything, and she just embraces it and is just so happy.
"And the older girls see it too. Sometimes when the girls go at each other, she just raises her eyebrows and then they laugh and can get past whatever stupid thing they're fighting about."
The Wild Things star was unsure how Eloise's condition would affect her, and while the youngster is nonverbal, she is still "very aware" of "certain dynamics and situations.
She said: "Early on, we thought she would be talking, but she is primarily considered nonverbal...
"She's very observant. She understands everything. And it was a very challenging situation with her trying to figure out what was really going on with her. It was hard."
Aaron adopted Eloise in 2019, a year after he married Denise, and he admitted it wasn't something he needed to think twice about.
He said: "It wasn't even a decision.
"She's sweetheart. I love her. I think of her as my own."
