The cyber-bullying of a dying child afflicted with the same genetic disorder that killed her mother has heaped national attention on Huntington’s disease.

Kathleen Edward’s story has been picked up around the world, from CBS News to British tabloids. It’s one of the top searches on Google this morning. After Jennifer and Scott Petkov taunted the girl on Facebook with death imagery depicting her and her deceased mother, Facebook groups with thousands of members formed to protest “the most heartless couple in the US.” That description comes from a group called “Scott and Jennifer Petkov deserve to be publically shamed.” The administrator of that site is having trouble keeping death threats and the couples’ address and phone number off its page.

The girl got a special day yesterday in Ann Arbor, when she was treated to a toy-shopping spree of a lifetime.

But what is Huntington’s disease?

The affliction is hereditary; it devastates generations of families and often hits adults in the prime of their lives, said Dave Stickles, president of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America - Michigan Chapter.

The progressively destructive and deadly disorder destroys its victims' ability to think, speak and walk before they succumb to heart failure, pneumonia, or other afflictions.

There is no effective treatment or cure. Adults typically live 10 to 25 years after the onset of symptoms. Children with juvenile Huntington’s, a rare and more aggressive version of the disease, live only five to 10 years after the onset of symptoms.

Since the onset of Huntington’s also coincides with adults’ prime earning potential, the disease often leaves families economically devastated as well.

Stickles said the attention Kathleen’s story has brought to the issue is generating thousands of dollars for his organization from around the world.

Juliana Keeping is a health and environment reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter