ianstone
06-06-2010, 09:27 AM
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age1_516x384_119645a.jpg LITTLE SMASHER: Ashanti playing in garden
Brave girl, 7, has body of a granny
Little girl ages eight times faster than normal
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By Lucy Laing, 06/06/2010
ON the inside she's like any other bubbly little seven-year-old girl - but on the outside she has the face and body of an old woman.
Brave Ashanti Elliott-Smith suffers from an incredibly rare incurable condition that makes her age EIGHT TIMES faster than normal.
Little girl Ashanti Elliott-Smith is ageing eight times faster than normal
It means by the time she's 10, she will be as physically frail as a granny aged 80.
And even now, while she plays with her school pals and listens to her favourite pop band JLS, she has to cope with problems of ageing like arthritis and a weakening heart.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age10_280x420_119666a.jpg HAPPY: With mum Phoebe
But Ashanti's mum Phoebe, 24, is determined she'll have as normal and happy a childhood as possible.
Because the youngster's illness - a genetic disorder called Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome that's shared by just one other child in Britain - reduces life expectancy to 13.
But Phoebe, who has another daughter aged four, told us: "We make the most of each day.
"Ashanti's such an easy-going lively little girl - she's so precious.
While her playmates have bloomed from babies to thriving children, Ashanti has degenerated like a pensioner. Right are snaps from the family album showing the changes, along with Phoebe's thoughts at each stage.
What little hair Ashanti grew as a toddler has gone. She is now bald and has the wizened features of an elderly person - which causes passers-by to stare in the street.
She has very poor grip in her hands, and in just three years will have the arthritic, heart and respiratory conditions of someone in their 80s.
She currently stands at just under 3ft and is just 2st, the usual weight for a three-year-old.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age3_280x420_119647a.jpg 7 MONTHS: 'Our first Christmas. I had started to get a bit worried.'
But it is unlikely Ashanti will get any bigger.
And her tiny frame is so frail she has to be kept away from poorly kids because illnesses like chicken pox and flu could kill her.
But when Ashanti was born in May 2003, she weighed 5lb 10oz and looked like a healthy baby.
Phoebe said: "I'd had a normal pregnancy and I thought she was perfect. Her dad Albi and I were thrilled."
The first sign that all was not right came at three weeks, when Ashanti's body started to convulse.
Phoebe rushed her to hospital but was shocked when doctors mistakenly thought the tot had been violently shaken by an adult.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age4_280x420_119648a.jpg 1ST BIRTHDAY: 'Just after her first diagnosis. I could not believe she had Progeria'
"I was absolutely devastated," said the mum. "Eventually they said she hadn't been and we'd done nothing wrong but it still really upset me.
"I was only 17 when I gave birth but I was one of 11 children so I'd had plenty of experience looking after babies." Medics carried out a barrage of tests to find out what was wrong - and they all came back negative.
But over the next few months Ashanti got worse and worse.
Phoebe, who lives near Brighton, said: "She was still jerking and she wasn't gaining weight and she was still bald - and my health visitor thought I was neglecting her."
The worried mum pressed for more tests, and just before Ashanti's first birthday she was sent to London's Great Ormond Street children's hospital. Phoebe said: "A doctor there took one look at her and knew straight away what it was.
"When he told us what Progeria was, I fainted in the room. Afterwards Albi explained to me it would be just like looking after a grandmother.
"He said we had to care for Ashanti as if she was an old person, as her body would age so fast. It was devastating but I knew I had to carry on and cope with it.
"My mum is very close to Ashanti and was especially devastated -
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age6_280x420_119657a.jpg AGE 3: 'With her daddy in Santa's grotto'
she has never been the same since we found out.
"It's very difficult for her to accept she is going to outlive her granddaughter."
Progeria is caused by a defective gene but it is not hereditary. Ashanti's little sister Brandy Lou does not have it.
There are only 52 other sufferers of Progeria in the world - including 12-year-old Hayley Okines, who lives in Bexhill-on-Sea, near Ashanti. The girls have met a couple of times and get on well.
But Ashanti's dad Albi Elliott, 40, told how the condition can take a terrible toll. "Ashanti's my world and my life is devastated by the fact she is so ill," he said.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age7_280x420_119658a.jpg 4 YEARS: 'First day at school. I was worried but she was fine'
"I used to own a metal recycling company and I've given it up to spend as much time with Ashanti as I can.
"I'm so proud of her - she is a great daughter."
For Phoebe, one of the hardest things is when strangers gawp.
She said: "I used to get very angry when people stared at Ashanti. I wasn't ashamed of her - I just didn't want them making her feel uncomfortable.
"Staring is the worst - I prefer it when people just ask me what is wrong with her.
"If other children stare at her, Ashanti just smiles and says, 'It's because I'm beautiful.'"
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age8_280x420_119660a.jpg 5 YEARS: 'On holiday in Florida. We had such a wonderful time'
In fact, the plucky little girl won't let anything get her down, and tries to get involved with everything her friends do.
Phoebe said: "At school sports days she can't do any running races but they will let her take part in an event like throwing bean bags.
"If her knee hurts because of the arthritis and she asks me why, I just tell her it is because she is a 'special little girl'.
"She is so brave. If she falls, she picks herself up and gets on with it."
Like other girls, Ashanti goes to a mainstream school, loves playing with her new puppy Samson and is a massive fan of Girls Aloud and JLS.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age9_280x420_119662a.jpg AGE 6: 'A school pic. I love her grin. She's a very happy child'
Her mum told us: "Ashanti has a poster of JLS's Aston Merrygold on her ceiling so she can see him when she goes to bed at night. He's her absolute heartthrob.
"I took her to see them in concert last year and one of the boys blew her a kiss. Her poor legs went wobbly at the knees."
Ashanti also loves horses, so Phoebe is trying to arrange lessons with a riding school for the disabled, because she is too frail for normal saddles.
And in the last few years the family have enjoyed happy days out and holidays, including to Florida's Disney World.
Phoebe has created a memory box of keepsakes, including every painting and drawing Ashanti does at school, and all her clothes.
She said: "I keep everything that Ashanti does because she is so precious.
"I've not even thrown a single sock away. She's the most amazing little girl and so full of life. Every moment is precious."
Last year Ashanti embarked on a trial treatment programme at a hospital in Marseille, in the south of France, where she goes once every few months.
It is designed to improve her quality of life - but sadly it won't extend it.
Her parents know they cannot prevent the inevitable but have decided not to tell Ashanti the full extent of her illness.
Phoebe explained: "She understands most of her condition but we don't talk to her about the prognosis as we don't want to scare her.
"To tell your daughter the truth about something like that - it is the hardest thing in the world."
Find out more about Progeria and make a donation at www.progeriaresearch.org (http://www.progeriaresearch.org/)
Photos: worldwidefeatures.com (http://worldwidefeatures.com/)
Now this is a story on courage !
Brave girl, 7, has body of a granny
Little girl ages eight times faster than normal
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/img/icons/article_video.gif (http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/video/?videoId=2160_837356&videoChannel=NOTW:News)
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/article_tag/exclusive.gif
By Lucy Laing, 06/06/2010
ON the inside she's like any other bubbly little seven-year-old girl - but on the outside she has the face and body of an old woman.
Brave Ashanti Elliott-Smith suffers from an incredibly rare incurable condition that makes her age EIGHT TIMES faster than normal.
Little girl Ashanti Elliott-Smith is ageing eight times faster than normal
It means by the time she's 10, she will be as physically frail as a granny aged 80.
And even now, while she plays with her school pals and listens to her favourite pop band JLS, she has to cope with problems of ageing like arthritis and a weakening heart.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age10_280x420_119666a.jpg HAPPY: With mum Phoebe
But Ashanti's mum Phoebe, 24, is determined she'll have as normal and happy a childhood as possible.
Because the youngster's illness - a genetic disorder called Hutchinson Gilford Progeria Syndrome that's shared by just one other child in Britain - reduces life expectancy to 13.
But Phoebe, who has another daughter aged four, told us: "We make the most of each day.
"Ashanti's such an easy-going lively little girl - she's so precious.
While her playmates have bloomed from babies to thriving children, Ashanti has degenerated like a pensioner. Right are snaps from the family album showing the changes, along with Phoebe's thoughts at each stage.
What little hair Ashanti grew as a toddler has gone. She is now bald and has the wizened features of an elderly person - which causes passers-by to stare in the street.
She has very poor grip in her hands, and in just three years will have the arthritic, heart and respiratory conditions of someone in their 80s.
She currently stands at just under 3ft and is just 2st, the usual weight for a three-year-old.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age3_280x420_119647a.jpg 7 MONTHS: 'Our first Christmas. I had started to get a bit worried.'
But it is unlikely Ashanti will get any bigger.
And her tiny frame is so frail she has to be kept away from poorly kids because illnesses like chicken pox and flu could kill her.
But when Ashanti was born in May 2003, she weighed 5lb 10oz and looked like a healthy baby.
Phoebe said: "I'd had a normal pregnancy and I thought she was perfect. Her dad Albi and I were thrilled."
The first sign that all was not right came at three weeks, when Ashanti's body started to convulse.
Phoebe rushed her to hospital but was shocked when doctors mistakenly thought the tot had been violently shaken by an adult.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age4_280x420_119648a.jpg 1ST BIRTHDAY: 'Just after her first diagnosis. I could not believe she had Progeria'
"I was absolutely devastated," said the mum. "Eventually they said she hadn't been and we'd done nothing wrong but it still really upset me.
"I was only 17 when I gave birth but I was one of 11 children so I'd had plenty of experience looking after babies." Medics carried out a barrage of tests to find out what was wrong - and they all came back negative.
But over the next few months Ashanti got worse and worse.
Phoebe, who lives near Brighton, said: "She was still jerking and she wasn't gaining weight and she was still bald - and my health visitor thought I was neglecting her."
The worried mum pressed for more tests, and just before Ashanti's first birthday she was sent to London's Great Ormond Street children's hospital. Phoebe said: "A doctor there took one look at her and knew straight away what it was.
"When he told us what Progeria was, I fainted in the room. Afterwards Albi explained to me it would be just like looking after a grandmother.
"He said we had to care for Ashanti as if she was an old person, as her body would age so fast. It was devastating but I knew I had to carry on and cope with it.
"My mum is very close to Ashanti and was especially devastated -
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age6_280x420_119657a.jpg AGE 3: 'With her daddy in Santa's grotto'
she has never been the same since we found out.
"It's very difficult for her to accept she is going to outlive her granddaughter."
Progeria is caused by a defective gene but it is not hereditary. Ashanti's little sister Brandy Lou does not have it.
There are only 52 other sufferers of Progeria in the world - including 12-year-old Hayley Okines, who lives in Bexhill-on-Sea, near Ashanti. The girls have met a couple of times and get on well.
But Ashanti's dad Albi Elliott, 40, told how the condition can take a terrible toll. "Ashanti's my world and my life is devastated by the fact she is so ill," he said.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age7_280x420_119658a.jpg 4 YEARS: 'First day at school. I was worried but she was fine'
"I used to own a metal recycling company and I've given it up to spend as much time with Ashanti as I can.
"I'm so proud of her - she is a great daughter."
For Phoebe, one of the hardest things is when strangers gawp.
She said: "I used to get very angry when people stared at Ashanti. I wasn't ashamed of her - I just didn't want them making her feel uncomfortable.
"Staring is the worst - I prefer it when people just ask me what is wrong with her.
"If other children stare at her, Ashanti just smiles and says, 'It's because I'm beautiful.'"
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age8_280x420_119660a.jpg 5 YEARS: 'On holiday in Florida. We had such a wonderful time'
In fact, the plucky little girl won't let anything get her down, and tries to get involved with everything her friends do.
Phoebe said: "At school sports days she can't do any running races but they will let her take part in an event like throwing bean bags.
"If her knee hurts because of the arthritis and she asks me why, I just tell her it is because she is a 'special little girl'.
"She is so brave. If she falls, she picks herself up and gets on with it."
Like other girls, Ashanti goes to a mainstream school, loves playing with her new puppy Samson and is a massive fan of Girls Aloud and JLS.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00119/age9_280x420_119662a.jpg AGE 6: 'A school pic. I love her grin. She's a very happy child'
Her mum told us: "Ashanti has a poster of JLS's Aston Merrygold on her ceiling so she can see him when she goes to bed at night. He's her absolute heartthrob.
"I took her to see them in concert last year and one of the boys blew her a kiss. Her poor legs went wobbly at the knees."
Ashanti also loves horses, so Phoebe is trying to arrange lessons with a riding school for the disabled, because she is too frail for normal saddles.
And in the last few years the family have enjoyed happy days out and holidays, including to Florida's Disney World.
Phoebe has created a memory box of keepsakes, including every painting and drawing Ashanti does at school, and all her clothes.
She said: "I keep everything that Ashanti does because she is so precious.
"I've not even thrown a single sock away. She's the most amazing little girl and so full of life. Every moment is precious."
Last year Ashanti embarked on a trial treatment programme at a hospital in Marseille, in the south of France, where she goes once every few months.
It is designed to improve her quality of life - but sadly it won't extend it.
Her parents know they cannot prevent the inevitable but have decided not to tell Ashanti the full extent of her illness.
Phoebe explained: "She understands most of her condition but we don't talk to her about the prognosis as we don't want to scare her.
"To tell your daughter the truth about something like that - it is the hardest thing in the world."
Find out more about Progeria and make a donation at www.progeriaresearch.org (http://www.progeriaresearch.org/)
Photos: worldwidefeatures.com (http://worldwidefeatures.com/)
Now this is a story on courage !