First black child diagnosed with aging disease

[jaxx]

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - The elfin child with the big personality and bright smile calls herself "the first lady" and dreams of the future. But doctors say 12-year-old Ontlametse Phalatse has only, perhaps, another couple of years to live.

"I call myself a first lady because I'm the first black child with this disease ... Which other black child do you know with this disease?" she challenged.

Ontlametse is the first black child diagnosed with progeria, a rare and fatal genetic condition that accelerates the aging process, the Progeria Research Foundation said.

Nobody knows how many kids in the world have it. In a two-year campaign to identify them, the Progeria Research Foundation says the number of children diagnosed around the world has soared from 48 to 80 on five continents.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/2011090...I6D01.html

There have been a couple programs on tv about two little American girls with progeria, and they do have similar features like this little girl. It's a strange thing, for little kids bodies to age so fast. Anyway, kudos to the kids, they are informed and know what is going on with themselves.

[Born_A_Truman]

What a precious child. I hope they find a cure for her and the others. Barbara Walters did a story on this disease for 20/20 a long time ago.