Progeria_Ford

//**Through Mackenzie's Eyes**// Journal entry March 14, 1998/2010 This is the story of my life. This was the day I was born. Even thought I looked normal at first I wasn't. I was born with a disease called **Progeria or HGPS (Hutchison Gillford Progeria Syndrome).** After I was old enough to understand my parents told me about it. But I already knew there was something wrong with me. They told me it's a genetic dieses caused by a mutation. Which I did know what it meant until they explained it is when a messenger RNA messes up a code of DNA. They said at first I looked fine. Then at around 18 months the doctors told my parent that we might need to go see a Genetics expert. The doctor said it looked like I might have a certain disease but they didn’t know for sure. The expert said Progeria was a rare disease that affects one in every 6 million people. He then says this mutation weakens the cell membrane which is what causes the faster ageing. He said the symptoms were hair loss, aging look to my skin, stiff joints. He also said I might get a heart disease called atherosclerosis. Then he told them the bad news it is fatal it is one of those disease that is progressively worse. The people who have had it before died around the age of 13. Right now I am 11 that means in two years I could die. But before I do I really want to change the way people see me or other kids with Progeria. Yes we look different and yes we may die sooner than they but we still are just like them. I even have friends that have passed from this disease. There is also a website I really want anyone who is reading this to see it is http://www.progeriaresearch.org/. This has many videos of people who have the disease. Even though there is no cure right now I hope I can hold on until there is. Here are some pictures of children with Progeria

So next time you second guess yourself, think again. Everybody has a good life.