Mar 27
seen from United States
seen from France
seen from China
seen from Vietnam
seen from Malaysia
seen from South Korea
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from South Korea
seen from South Korea
seen from Yemen
seen from United Kingdom
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from South Korea
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from South Korea
seen from Austria
South Africa mourns the death of Ontlametse Phalatse
South Africa mourns the death of Ontlametse Phalatse
[ad_1]
Image copyright Kopano Tlape Flickr
Image caption Jacob Zuma called Ontlametse Phalatse a “brave young fighter”
A woman who captured the hearts of many South Africans for her brave battle against premature aging disorder progeria has died aged 18.
Doctors had said Ontlametse Phalatse would not make it past the age of 14.
Pr…
View On WordPress
South Africa mourns the death of Ontlametse Phalatse A woman who captured the hearts of many South Africans for her brave battle against premature aging disorder progeria has died aged 18.
One of her biggest dreams was to meet and have a conversation with President Zuma, and it became a reality. Rest in Peace #Ontlametse Phalatse (at Durban Waterfront)
Not so long ago we were celebrating her 18th birthday. Today I get the news of her passing...mxm Robala ka kgotso ausi Tlami. 😭😭😭😭😭 I recall this pic was taken on the day @tipsshampoo organized yo 15th birthday party. Family, friends and great company was there to celebrate... *sigh #Life #ontlametse
BEAUTIFUL ONTLAMETSE PHALATSE @ntlami WAS BORN WITH A RARE AGE-ACCELERATING DISORDER BUT HER POSITIVITY IS CONTAGIOUS Ontlametse Phalatse was born looking “normal”, but later on, her mother Bellondiscovered something was wrong. By the time she was three months old, she was already having constant rashes on her skin and her mother thought she had a skin disease. Before Ontlametse celebrated her first birthday, her hair was falling, her nails weren’t normal, the skin problems continued. Her parents were going from doctor to doctor. Her father abandoned her and her mother before she celebrated her third birthday, as she was aging prematurely. She was enrolled in school at 6 years old but that came with scornful remarks from her classmates and teachers who thought she had AIDS. People living with AIDS were always being discriminated in South Africa at the time. It did not stop her as she proved to be a bright student. In 2009, a doctor friend suggested she have Ontlametse tested for Progeria – (a rare age-accelerating disorder also known as Benjamin Button Disorder), and brought her a book about the disease. She was later diagnosed of the disorder. Ontlametse has a bubbly and positive personality, and she doesn’t allow her condition to bring her down. She calls herself ‘First Lady’ because she is the first (recorded) Black child with the disorder. Her caption: What a lovely day. Life is about enjoying every moment The disorder is believed to have inspired the Brad Pitt movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, in which he is born an old man and ages backwards. The Progeria Research Foundation says that only two Africans have been diagnosed with the disease and they both live in South Africa – Ontlametse and a 5-year-old white girl. Although, researchers believe there are other children with the disorder, but they (researchers) haven’t been able to reach them. The foundation added that the number of children diagnosed with the disorder around the world has soared from 48 to 80 on five continents. Full article via @womenofrubies site #Womenofrubies #ontlametse #hopeful #ntlami #progeria