Zara Hartshorn Suffers from Lipodystrophy: Old Beyond Her Years

Zara Hartshorn is just 13-years-old, but she suffers from a rare genetic condition called Lipodystrophy so she looks old beyond her years. She has been called 'grandma', 'monkey' and 'baggy face' and the bullying got so bad that her mom had to pull her out of school. Even though she is only 13, Lidopystrophy makes her look like she could be someone's grandmother as her face is that of a grown woman, and wrinkled. "It feels like people are looking down their noses at me and staring," she said at her home in northern England. "You know when you get that feeling you're being watched? I feel that everywhere I go." Source: abcnews.go.com Zara's mother Tracey was also born with Lipodystrophy and she knows what Zara is going through. She could tell Zara suffered from the disease when she was just a newborn: "I was grieving for a child that's got to go through the same things in life that I've had to go through," she said. "I was angry at myself for actually having Zara." Source: abcnews.go.com When someone suffers from Lipodystrophy the body cannot produce fat cells under the skin so the aging process is so much faster. There is no cure and due to the rapid aging it can bring about diabetes, stroke and liver problems. Zara is the strongest sufferer in her family. Three out of Tracey's seven children suffers from Lipodsytrophy. When asked what she feels when she sees her own face in the mirror, Zara said, "I don't like it. Sometimes I'll sit in my room and start pulling my skin back, stuff like that. Most teenagers worry about getting spots.... I'm worried about surgery and stuff like that and when's bullying going to stop." Source: abcnews.go.com Zara said that the thing she wants most is a face-lift, but her mother says surgery doesn't help much. Tracey says that she fears Zara will end up like her, with a string of abusive relationships, no career and low self-esteem due to her condition. "I don't want [Zara] ending up like me," she said. "Surrounding herself with seven, eight or however many kids just to feel loved.... And she doesn't need to go from one man to another looking for something she'll never find." Source: abcnews.go.com Zara wants to be a beauty therapist when she is older; for now she is working on stepping outside her front door without people making fun of her.

COMMENTS

Chayla

I'm a 15 yr old girl from N.Y.This is so sad ppl really need to be grateful for the things they have I mean look at this girl she is gonna face this for the rest of her life. She didn't choose to have this ailment,support her and show her it's who she is that counts. Yeah, it's not everyday that you see a person looking 40 years older than what they are,but come on, if she didn't have this illness would people ridicule her? I'm 98% sure they wouldn't... And Zara if you read this I want you to know that not everyone is going to judge you by your looks, Don't worry girl! Be strong a lot of other people are going through worse situations and it's not makeup that makes everyone appear beautiful,Thank god for everything he gave you and just know that you have people out here who support you...

Dana Dubova

Agree with Chayla!! Don't forget what's in the Bible, one day unseen will be seen and what you can see will dissapear:-) So you value is INSIDE of you!!

Shantell

I was sitting in the kitchen on Monday night watching Inside Edition when I saw little Zara's story. Tears came to my eyes because my brother is also suffering from this same condition and after seeing her story, we were finally able to put a name to my brother's disorder. We did not know what it was until I saw Zara's story so I quickly picked up the phone and called my brother to inform him of the fact that he was not alone. My brother went to many doctors who told him they did not know what he was suffering from. Right now he is 38 years old looking like 110 years old. We thought he was severely stressed or probably ill but test results proved that he was healthy. We are just happy to know that his condition is not unique and it has been diagnosed. I am praying for a miracle because my brother lives in isolation and it's like his life has been taken away from him. The issue that I am still grappling with is that this condition started to appear in my brother within the past five years. Before that, his skin was firm and he was youthful or looked his age. My question is, does lipodystrophy occur mainly in children or at child birth? If so, then is my brother really suffering from lipodystrophy? I am 100% certain that lipodystrophy is what he is suffering from though. Help, help, help.

Sven Yar

I think a doctor might have been able to diagnose your brother's condition...But maybe it's too rare to be found; what you said about the disease starting five years ago, maybe this disease is unpredictable, as it can decide one day to start or not; but it is definitely genetic. So my question to you is, have you, in your family, anyone with the same disease? (Up to your grand-grand parents)?

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