Health

Have You Heard of This 15-Year-Old With a Rare Condition That Makes Her Look 45?

Teenage Zara Hartshorn Talks About Trials of Looking Middle Aged Due to a Rare Genetic Condition

Zara Hartshorn at age 13 (Image: YouTube screenshot/ABC News)

For the last few years, media outlets have been covering the sad story of a now 15-year-old British girl with a rare condition that has caused her to prematurely age. Instead of appearing as a typical teen, Zara Hartshorn looks like a 45-year-old woman in clothing much to young for her.

Zara has been speaking about her condition to raise awareness and in the hopes that bullying and discrimination against her would stop.

Most recently, the UK’s Daily Mirror featured Zara last month.  She talks about the trials she faces looking like a middle aged woman on the outside but feeling like a teen on the inside. Diagnosed with a genetic form of lipodystrophy, a condition where fat is redistributed in a way that makes the patient appear older, Zara and some of the other women in her family are aging before their time with teeth falling out and needing collagen injections to combat wrinkles.

Since the fat is deposited in areas other than where it should be, it can lead to other health complications as well. It is estimated that this condition affects 1 in every 10 million people worldwide.

Here are some of Zara’s thoughts in The Mirror:

She said: “It’s impossible to get a child’s ticket at the cinema and when I wear my school uniform people think I’m in fancy dress.

“Growing up with lipodystrophy has been really hard.

Teenage Zara Hartshorn Talks About Trials of Looking Middle Aged Due to a Rare Genetic Condition

Zara and her mother, Tracey, who also has the disease. (Image: YouTube screenshot/ABC News)

“Children started being cruel to me when I was at primary school, calling me ‘baggy face’ and ‘granny’.

“I’ve been physically assaulted at school because of how I look so Mum took me out of school for a term when I was 10 after the bullying got so bad.

“It wasn’t until secondary school I found a group of friends who accepted me for who I was, not how I looked.”

But outside school many people refuse to believe she’s so young.

Zara said: “I was once refused a child’s bus ticket in front of everyone. I went red, got off and walked home. In my first week at one school the teacher handed me a lesson plan. I said, ‘I’m not a teacher, I’m a pupil.’

“I’ve never felt so on the spot in my life – I just wanted to die.

“The same thing happened a year later when I changed teachers.”

Zara went on: “My teeth seem to be really weak and even though I brush regularly I’ve lost four already.

“Two are at the front, which makes me very self-conscious and I don’t like to smile with my mouth open.”

Zara’s mother, Tracey, told The Mirror she was devastated when she realized the condition was passed down to her girls, older men are attracted to girls far younger than they realize. She did say she is pleased her daughters know how to handle themselves.

Zara said she hopes to have plastic surgery someday to have effects more permanent than that of collagen injections.

Read more about Zara and see photos of her in The Mirror here.

In 2010, when ABC News first covered Zara’s story, it said her dream was to walk down the street feeling — and looking — young again. Watch this ABC report of Zara a couple years ago:

Comments (29)

  • freedomisasfreedomdoes
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 6:07pm

    Wow. That must be hard. :(

    Report Post » freedomisasfreedomdoes  
  • lukerw
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:52pm

    Let us pour Money into… REVERSING this Condition :)

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • ashestoashes
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 7:30pm

      That is what I was thinking LUKERW.. I am sure that this is such a rare condition..that researchers haven’t worked too hard on it..but I wouldn’t think that it would be that hardto reverse it….And when they do..it may open a door to new horizons in the health field..Just think..people in biblical days used to live close to a thousand years..

      Report Post »  
  • watersRpeople
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:20pm

    I’m not going to say poor her, because saying that will throw the rest of people into a gutter, because it makes other people think themselves have nothing wrong with them too. It seems to me not seeking truth is a disability, a malformation. It seems to me practicing the same routines and traditions while understanding gets twisted then fading – is a malformation. She’s no more deformed than anyone else.

    Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:32pm

      She only wears her deformity like a suit, but other people’s deformity is on the inside, and is just as well seen by people who are not blind or dead in spirit.

      Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:37pm

      Or how about this? Most people are not twain and one with their actual significant others. They are married to soul strangers, and are not doing as the Angels in Heaven. I think that’s a pretty big disfigurement.

      Report Post »  
    • RANGER1965
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:41pm

      @WATERSRPEOPLE

      Study for a few years and get that GED. Then take some college courses on critical thinking.

      You might want to develop a little empathy while you’re at it.

      Reading your little diatribe made me want to take a shower. You got a hole in your heart as big as Texas.

      Report Post » RANGER1965  
    • The Giver
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:57pm

      Yes, deformity comes in many forms WATERSRPEOPLE. You are right that her physical appearance is obvious whereas inner “ deformities” are not as clear. But God sees us as we really are and loves us anyway and despite ourselves. Good Luck.

      Report Post » The Giver  
    • Patriot Z
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:00pm

      ranger. thats not what he is saying. he has empathy, but I agree with him. she a great kid with alot going for her. its harder to see due to the disease. feeling sorry for yourself or for her dose not help her. its actually more hurtful and harmful as she just wants to be like every other kid. self pity is a useless emotion that never helps only hurts

      Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • Servant Of YHVH
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:07pm

      @RANGER1965
      AMEN, I could not have said it better myself. She doesn‘t need anyone’s pity, she needs their understanding, love and acceptance, none of which WATERSRPEOPLE is capable of understanding.

      Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
    • RANGER1965
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:17pm

      @PatriotZ

      Waters‘ analysis is so far off the deep end that it’s not even rational.

      Report Post » RANGER1965  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:12pm

    God Above help her and the mother and the rest of the family as well. They have been through hell on earth and still manage to find hope in the future; please aid them father as only you can, and let some means to reverse this come about, so she can live a normal life.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • The Giver
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:26pm

      Amen. And God help us accept people that look or sound different on the outside for whatever reason. The light of God shines in all his children. I have so much extra fat, I could donate some of it to her : )

      Report Post » The Giver  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:27pm

      Maybe she’s normal, and you are not. I bet she has more understanding than you do on particular things. As a matter of fact I bet her spirit is more alive than your spirit. I bet someday when she has a new body – she will exceedingly appreciate life.

      Report Post »  
  • OniKaze
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:05pm

    I have no real medical conditions (unless you consider being simply un-attractive as a medical condition) but being a reasonably-unattractive person myself, I can relate.

    I feel horrible for this girl, as she has been dealt a hand she didn’t deserve. I can only hope that things get better for her. As a man, I am sure my problem didn’t affect me as much as it would if I was a woman, but for her to be hit with this, is simply un-just….

    Good Luck out there Zara, The world CAN be a harsh place (and mostly is) but in the end, with the right mindset, you can create your own happiness. I know it can be done, and I hope you are able to find your own way…

    Report Post » OniKaze  
    • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:16pm

      A persons beauty is in their soul, not on their skin. Be a good person and you will never be Ugly.

      Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
    • The Giver
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:43pm

      Get yourself a puppy and walk it. Women can’t resist it. Once they get past your looks, and see your true beauty, they are hooked. You sound like a wonderful and caring man. Don’t know if you found your love yet, but I wish you love and health.

      Report Post » The Giver  
    • FREEDOMoverFEAR
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 4:19pm

      Poor girl. Alan Colmes the other day said horrible diseases that affect children are proof there is no God. I say God wants the rest of us to remember how lucky we are just to be healthy. Hopefully this poor Girl can get some medical attention to alleviate some of the conditions.

      Report Post » FREEDOMoverFEAR  
    • 1956
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:50am

      God created this child… and he had a purpose for her and her life. Are we up to the challenge? I hope she has a deep faith in God and his love for her. We should all realize that no matter what our trials are, God allows it for our betterment. I know that may be hard to understand, but one must have faith in God and his ultimate plan for our lives. I believe God allows Alan Colmes to be as ugly as he is on the inside so we can see what we are NOT supposed to be like.

      I have many health problems (some outwardly visible and others not) and I believe that they are there to help me understand some of the problems my children deal with (my kids are adopted – so thank goodness they don’t have my gene pool!). I try to deal with them the best I can…. to set an example for my children.

      And it’s true… if you have a good heart and personality – women will fall in love with a man who is not very good-looking. We will see the beauty that lies within… at least any woman worth having will. I prefer a man with intelligence and a sense of humor about life than a buff body with no brain behind it. Makes for a more iteresting life… and with me as a wife, my husband needs to laff off a lot of dumb things I do…

      Report Post » 1956  
  • TNYJ
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:03pm

    “I’m angry at myself for having Zara to some extent”. I’d think her mom would spend her time and words on camera consoling her daughter 100% since she knows what it’s like. Maybe she didn’t mean it in the way she said it. Sweet girl, hopefully the future hold bright things for her.

    Report Post »  
    • The Giver
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:50pm

      She blames herself for her child’s suffering. She suffers like her daughter. Wonder if the dad is in the picture? No mention of him.

      Report Post » The Giver  
  • powedj
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 2:59pm

    Add your comments

    Report Post » powedj  
  • BellaMia7
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 2:55pm

    Feel badly about your own problems? I wouldn’t trade for all the tea in china.

    Report Post » BellaMia7  
  • randy
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 2:49pm

    God bless this beautiful child!

    Report Post » randy  
  • TAMIBSK
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 2:43pm

    Lord, Bless Her!

    Report Post »  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 2:36pm

    This Is really sad for this individual; and the estimated 749 other people that have this disorder worldwide. Perhaps obama and others of his ilk could donate some of their personal wealth to finding a cure for these people worldwide.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 2:58pm

      They would rather do something easier, like feed the starving children in Africa, knowing full well the money and/or food never makes it past whatever dictator the country has.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:27pm

      They are already ‘giving food to Africa’ via our tax dollars.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on August 22, 2012 at 2:35pm

    It must be so sad for her and her mother, God be with them always and help them through this. Some people are so heartless and I can’t imagine her life. Love you girl.

    Report Post »  

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