Moderator's Notes

Haleigh Ann-Marie Cummings, the 5-year-old girl who has been missing from her family's home in Satsuma since Feb. 9, has a genetic abnormality that could help an eyewitness identify her.

TURNER SYNDROME

* Affects about 1 in every 2,500 female babies born alive.
* Genetically linked to the X chromosome.
* Restricts growth of long bones, development of ovaries.
* Characteristic features include a short neck, low hairline, "puffy" fingers or toes, multiple birthmarks.

Family members say Haleigh has been diagnosed with Turner syndrome, which affects one in every 2,500 female babies born alive and is marked by features that range from major heart defects to minor cosmetic indicators.

Haleigh is described as having strawberry blonde hair and brown eyes. She is 3 feet tall and weighs 39 pounds.

Family members say she has a number of features that are typical of a child with Turner syndrome: Two brown birthmarks are found on her left cheekbone and right jawline, her fingers and toes are chubbier than those of most kids her size and age, and her left eye is slightly smaller and unaligned (a condition called "lazy eye").

Haleigh is below average height for her age, typical of a Turner syndrome child. Most grow to be no taller than 4 feet 6 inches, according to a report from the National Institutes of Health, and they often are treated with human growth hormone.

While most of the physical signs of Turner syndrome are harmless, those who are born with it can have congenital heart disease, high blood pressure and abnormal development at puberty.

The genetic abnormality can be diagnosed by amniocentesis during pregnancy.

Anyone with information about Haleigh's disappearance should call 888-277-TIPS or the FDLE's Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse at 888-FL-MISSING.