Ashanti Smith walked slowly toward his bedroom is decorated pink. Smiling, she said good night to the mother.
But, sleep for this little boy is a struggle. Ashanti's new eight-year-old trapped in the body of the elderly, such as a 80-year-old grandmother. That is why, every step in his life is very precious time for the mother, Phoebe.
The brave little girl diagnosed as having a rare aging disease. He suffered from Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGP), a few weeks before the age of one year.
Like the kid in general, Ashanti love to play with their peers. But her body is very frail.His weight is only 12 kilograms, lighter than his brother Brandilouise, aged 5 years.
This rare disease has destroyed the body and joints. He, for example, difficult to walk away. The distance can be very painful for Ashanti. That is why, Ashanti takes a special wheelchair assistance.
Ashanti often shortness of breath, due to weak limbs. It's also the effect of hardening of the arteries and poor blood circulation. Since the age of one year, all the hair on the head of this little girl fall off. To reduce pain, Ashanti undergoing pioneering treatment twice a year in Marseilles, France.
The doctors admitted not knowing how the disease affects the circulatory system of Ashanti in the future.
The mother, Phoebe, 25, revealed her statement about fruit extraordinary. "Ashanti is an extraordinary, full of happiness and loved by many people," he said as quoted by The Sun.
Phoebe tells, when born, Ashanti did not reveal any abnormalities. "When born, he looked so perfect. She has beautiful big blue eyes and small noses," he said.
However, three weeks after that Ashanti began to show growth disturbances. Over the past six months, she did not grow, and begin to stop eating. When he was a year before the disease was known to reside in his body.
"We know it, my heart is broken. But he is a strong child. My daughter may have a disorder, but he's a loving man," said Phoebe.
HGP is a very rare genetic condition in the world. Until now, the disease can not be cured. Ashanti was one of two people found in England.
Although not affecting brain development, HGP cause arterial aging rapidly, and result in premature death. Most patients do not reach the 15 th anniversary as the impact of the disease in heart and artery health.