Mom gives birth to baby - it already has the face of an 'old woman'

In a small town in South Africa, a 20-year-old mother gave birth to her daughter last month. But soon she had to learn the tragic story of her child. Doctors told the young mother her child was suffering from Progeria, also known as Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, reports The Mirror.

This is an extremely rare, progressive genetic disorder. This means that children age particularly quickly. The course of the disease begins in the first two years of life.

The first abnormalities were already noticeable during the home birth. The baby did not cry and had abnormal breathing. In addition, it was born with deformed hands and wrinkled skin, mother and daughter were immediately taken to the hospital.

Family suffers: Sick baby called 'old woman'

"We hear what people call my granddaughter. It hurts a lot. I wish I could put all of them in jail" , the grandmother told the little ones. On the Internet, the baby was referred to as "Old Woman".

Photos of the child were posted online by strangers and circulated on the internet. Many poked fun at the sick child's appearance, unaware of the tragic story behind the photos.

Progeria: A rare, unexplored disease

People who are born with Progeria often suffer from cardiovascular problems during their youth. The cause of rapid aging has not yet been researched. Some researchers suspect cell damage as the reason. To date, 131 children and young adults worldwide are known to have the syndrome.

In the video you can see the new parents Ernst August jr. & Catherine of Hanover. Congratulations to both of them!