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Health / Re: 16-Year-Old Girl With Lipodystrophy That Makes Her Look 60 by NessaFresh(f): 2:52pm On Jun 24, 2013
She and Her Boyfriend

3 Likes

Health / 16-Year-Old Girl With Lipodystrophy That Makes Her Look 60 by NessaFresh(f): 2:51pm On Jun 24, 2013
Zara Hartshorn, from Rotherham, south Yorkshire, born with lipodystrophy
Her skin lacked elasticity and looked wrinkled and twisted
Endured years of bullying at school being called 'monkey' and 'granny'
Once made to get off a bus because driver would not believe she was a child
Pioneering facelift surgery in the US has given her new confidence
Started relationship with boyfriend Ricky and wants to go to college

A teenager who suffers from a rare genetic condition which makes her look middle-aged has been given new confidence thanks to pioneering facelift surgery.

Zara Hartshorn, 16, from Rotherham, south Yorkshire, had to endure years of cruel taunts and even physical abuse because of her appearance.

She inherited lipodystrophy - which makes her skin looked wrinkled and twisted - from her mother Tracey Gibson who also suffers from the illness.

But after hearing of her condition, a top surgeon in the US offered to perform cosmetic surgery for free. It has proved to be a complete success and Zara has felt able to start a relationship with new boyfriend Ricky Andrews and is even keen to go to college.
It is a remarkable change of fortunes for the teenager who was once left in tears after being made to get off a bus for not being able to prove she was eligible for a child's ticket.

By the time she was 12, Zara was already being mistaken for a middle-aged woman - and was even mistaken for 17-year-old sister Chloe's mother.
But now thanks to a lifeline by a surgeon in the US Zara feels indistinguishable from her peers.

Dr Abhimanyu Garg told Zara her condition is actually cutis laxa, an even rarer disease which only affects 30 people in the UK.

And Zara, who one day dreams of owning a beauty salon, says she is ready to leave the past behind and forgive her tormentors.

She said: 'Before I had surgery I was picked on for looking different, now I look the same as other girls my age.

'I don't feel like people are staring at me when I walk down the street anymore. I finally feel like a teenager.

'I've carried some hurtful comments with me all my life but now I feel ready to leave the past behind and forgive and forget.'

Her newfound self-assurance has helped her start a relationship with apprentice painter and decorator Ricky, 22, three months ago, who she met through friends.

She said: 'I've had boyfriends in the the past but I don't think any accepted my condition, really. But with Ricky it's never been an issue.
He's seen pictures of me before and told me I was always beautiful - although I wouldn't have had the self-confidence to believe him before.'

Growing up Zara put her rapid aging down to lipodystrophy - a genetic illness which decays bones and destroys fat beneath the skin.

At age four doctors told her she had inherited the condition from Tracey after she developed excess skin round her jawline.

Zara said: 'Mum explained that I had an illness like she did, but that I was beautiful and shouldn't pay any attention to what anyone said.

'The bullying was worst between the ages of eight and ten. Kids used to call me monkey and granny and I was even beaten up just because of how I looked.

'It got so bad I stopped going for a while.'

But even after changing schools Zara's life was made a misery because of her illness.

She recalled: 'I lived in fear of being asked how old I was.
'I was even mistaken for a teacher in school on a couple of occasions, which was just mortifying in front of my classmates.'

After Zara's plight was made public she was contacted by lipodystrophy expert Dr Abhimanyu Garg, from Texas, US, who asked to carry out some tests on Zara and Tracey.

The pair were found to be suffering from cutis laxa, an even rarer condition which can shorten life expectancy, weaken joints and can lung and heart problems.
Although hard news to take in, Zara was later presented with the offer of a facelift and nose augmentation free of charge by top surgeon Dr Robert Ersek.

She said: 'It was an amazing opportunity that I could never of dreamed of before.

'When I saw myself in the mirror after the bandages all came off it was mixture of surprise and happiness.

'I used to hate my nose, but now I love it.'
And thanks to her confidence boost, Zara is determined to go to college and achieve her ambition.

She said: 'I feel much more confident and just happier in general.

'I'm now able to do things like going to college and having a career which I might not have felt possible before.

'The surgery has given me a boost and now I don't fear what other people think.

'I've noticed a change in me and I feel a lot happier.'

And poignantly, Zara says she is all the more determined to live a happy, normal life because of the support she has had from her mother Tracey.

She said: 'I know I'm lucky to have had the opportunity and it's something my mum would have loved to have been offered.

'I want to make something of my life for her - to make her proud.

'I know I'll always have this condition and it may shorten my life, but at least I can feel more like comfortable and confident.

'Although I look younger I still feel older than my years because of everything I have been through.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2347104/Zara-Hartshorn-Teenager-rare-condition-makes-look-middle-aged-given-fresh-hope-facelift.html
http://nairatunes..com/2013/06/16-year-old-girl-who-looks-like-60-year.html

1 Like

Science/Technology / Re: Magician Dynamo Levitates From The Roof Of A London Bus by NessaFresh(f): 2:09pm On Jun 24, 2013
he should come to my compound and do this
Celebrities / Re: Dbanj DKM Concert Pictures by NessaFresh(f): 1:44pm On Jun 24, 2013
me and 2chainz snuggled up backstage
Crime / Re: Pregnant Love Peddlers On Onitsha-owerri Road. by NessaFresh(f): 1:34pm On Jun 24, 2013
grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin

1 Like

Career / Re: Poses No Woman Should Use At Work To Avoid Molestation by NessaFresh(f): 12:11pm On Jun 24, 2013
berem: Something like that! mouth action things.... grin

pro1 is acting as if he's a learner lol
Entertainment / DO They Even Stand Any Chance by NessaFresh(f): 11:51am On Jun 24, 2013
angry

Career / Re: Poses No Woman Should Use At Work To Avoid Molestation by NessaFresh(f): 11:47am On Jun 24, 2013
pro01: What is that fool doing in the last image. . .is he sniffing her arsê?
grin grin grin
Career / Re: Poses No Woman Should Use At Work To Avoid Molestation by NessaFresh(f): 11:46am On Jun 24, 2013
Thoniameek: Thanks, very much
me 2
Celebrities / Re: Yvonne Nelson Chilling With Waje (PHOTO) by NessaFresh(f): 10:24pm On Jun 23, 2013
cheesy cheesy cheesy cheesy
demelza: Waje should only be looked at from the neck down. Yvonne looks beautiful.
Romance / Re: What Did She Marry Him For...money Or Love? by NessaFresh(f): 4:59pm On Jun 23, 2013
grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin
rokiatu: What do you think?
rokiatu dont kill me
Celebrities / Yvonne Nelson Chilling With Waje (PHOTO) by NessaFresh(f): 4:46pm On Jun 23, 2013

Romance / Re: Mr Nairaland June 2013 is AbPatrick! by NessaFresh(f): 2:34pm On Jun 21, 2013
Laylow got my vote
Travel / Re: Staff At The Nigerian Embassy In Canada Are Incompetent by NessaFresh(f): 1:54pm On Jun 21, 2013
bobthebuilder99: Go back to the embassy and beat them bloody, like these chaps did.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aeFhF1s8RM
grin
bobthebuilder99: Go back to the embassy and beat them bloody, like these chaps did.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aeFhF1s8RM

1 Like

Science/Technology / Re: Creatures That Live Longer Than Humans by NessaFresh(f): 1:51pm On Jun 21, 2013
Ok
Celebrities / Re: Kim And Kanye's Daughter Is North West by NessaFresh(f): 1:50pm On Jun 21, 2013
Very silly name

2 Likes

TV/Movies / Re: Ann Mbaru Got Huge Breast #BBATHECAHSE by NessaFresh(f): 12:18pm On Jun 21, 2013
Thread deleted.
Op banned
Travel / Re: Domus Civita : The Stunning Home Inside Cave by NessaFresh(f): 9:56pm On Jun 20, 2013
wink

Travel / Re: Domus Civita : The Stunning Home Inside Cave by NessaFresh(f): 9:53pm On Jun 20, 2013
cool

Travel / Domus Civita : The Stunning Home Inside Cave by NessaFresh(f): 9:51pm On Jun 20, 2013
Private Residence Domus Civita is located in the medieval town of Civita di Bagnoregio in Italy, which can be reached only by footbridge. The house was built in the XIV century and is located on the top of the Etruscan tombs and caves, and beautiful gardens subside downward..
http://nairatunes..com/2013/06/domus-civita-stunning-home-inside-cave.html

Music/Radio / VIDEO :iceprince – V.I.P by NessaFresh(f): 9:39pm On Jun 20, 2013
This is the Official Video for Ice Prince’s V.I.P. Nice Video with cameo appearance from M.I, Dr. SID, Phyno, Lynxxx, Pryse, IllBliss e.t.c. Directed by Clarence Peters.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c75leLa1LUM
Sports / Re: We Are Relaxed For The Game Against Uruguay – Keshi by NessaFresh(f): 3:50pm On Jun 20, 2013
supaeagles:
No mind am jare, the last time he predicted doom for our super eagles they ended up winning the competition , so let him continue to "predict more doom" for SE - it's like good luck for us grin
( see pic below ):
MY GUY U TIGHT...FREE kitten FOR U
Celebrities / Re: Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone At Concert by NessaFresh(f): 3:47pm On Jun 20, 2013
Jokes Etc / Re: Nigerian Stars In Spideman As Lead Character?? (picture) Lwkmd by NessaFresh(f): 12:01pm On Jun 20, 2013
grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin grin
Brimmie: [size=30]Who Owns Ds Agbero!?? See As Hunger Don Finish Him Face!! Mtcheew.. Wack!![/size]
Computers / How Much Does It Cost To Laptop Screen by NessaFresh(f): 11:59am On Jun 20, 2013
my laptop fell off from a tall building and the screen broke internally...just the ink splattered all over. how much would that cost to repair
Sports / Re: Italy Vs Japan - Confederations Cup (4 - 3) On 19th June 2013 by NessaFresh(f): 12:46am On Jun 20, 2013
THIS IS ONE OF ThE BEST GAMES I'VE WATCHED ALL YEAR
Sports / Re: Italy Vs Japan - Confederations Cup (4 - 3) On 19th June 2013 by NessaFresh(f): 11:37pm On Jun 19, 2013
any onlime streaming link??
Jokes Etc / Nigerian Stars In Spideman As Lead Character?? (picture) Lwkmd by NessaFresh(f): 11:12pm On Jun 19, 2013
grin grin grin grin grin okay move to jokes section

Education / Re: Crazy Day For Oau,dem Catch Guy Wey Dey Masturbate For Female Hostel Toilet by NessaFresh(f): 10:20pm On Jun 19, 2013
grin grin

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