Post: #1

Famed British teenager Hayley Okines -- who suffered from a disease that causes the body to age 8 times faster than normal -- passed away at the age of 17

Quote:A girl with a rare genetic condition which made her body age eight times faster than normal has died at the age of 17.

Hayley Okines, from Bexhill, East Sussex, became known as the 100-year-old teenager through her efforts to raise awareness of progeria.

Her mother, Kerry, announced Hayley's death on Thursday evening.

"My baby has gone somewhere better. She took her last breath in my arms at 9.39pm," she wrote.

Her father Mark said Hayley was being treated for pneumonia, and had briefly returned home from hospital on the day she died.

"She came home for an hour and she saw her puppies, little brother Louie and her sister Ruby," he said.

"I think she wanted to come home to say goodbye to everybody.

"I think she knew that yesterday was going to be the time."

'Memory lives on'

Hayley, who published an autobiography at the age of 14, had made a number of appearances where she spoke about her condition.

The teenager had been told she would not live past the age of 13, but she went on to undergo a pioneering drug treatment in the US.

Hayley became known as the "100-year-old teenager"

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome causes accelerated ageing in those affected.

People with the condition also suffer heart problems, lack of growth and loss of body fat and hair.

It affects just 124 children worldwide.

The Progeria Research Foundation posted on its Facebook page: "The entire Progeria family mourns together with many as we say goodbye to Hayley Okines, our smart, beautiful and spirited English rose, who passed away today at age 17."

Phoebe Smith, whose 11-year-old daughter Ashanti also has the condition, said Hayley had inspired a lot of people.

"She will always be loved. She is my inspiration - her and her mum," she said.

"Her memory will definitely live on."

A short video summing up the situation:





This is a pretty sad situation, but it seems like this strapping young lass did not waste her time complaining about her lot in life, but spent her time striving to overcome it and enjoying what she could.

She actually wrote an autobiography at age 14, talking about her extremely rare disease and its effect on her life:



It seems like she had found peace with her condition towards the end and hopefully her family finds peace themselves in time.

There isn't much else to say in this sort of situation, other than the observation that many of our problems in this world seem small and tawdry when compared to the battles others face. If you are able-bodied and of sound mind, there isn't any reason you shouldn't be trying to better your life or simply appreciating what you have. Not all of us get a such a chance in life.

Post: #2

WNB

Post: #3

Rest in peace, kid. Hope you had a good run.

Post: #4

(04-04-2015 02:22 AM)Other Barry Wrote:  WNB

Mate, really? You just have to say that? Come on.

Post: #5

Just a really sad story.

Poor thing.

Post: #6

Quote:Mate, really? You just have to say that? Come on. Dodgy

This is RVF, we'll rate anything with a vagina and a pulse.

Post: #7

(04-04-2015 06:53 AM)Blick Mang Wrote:  

Quote:Mate, really? You just have to say that? Come on. Dodgy

This is RVF, we'll rate anything with a vagina and a pulse.

Yeah but...she doesn't have a pulse.

Post: #8

(04-04-2015 06:27 AM)roberto Wrote:  

(04-04-2015 02:22 AM)Other Barry Wrote:  WNB

Mate, really? You just have to say that? Come on.

This. She's the world's youngest wall victim. The WNB is obvious.

Post: #9

(04-04-2015 02:22 AM)Other Barry Wrote:  WNB

Probably in the minority here but I find that quite distasteful.

Post: #10

(04-04-2015 03:45 PM)Vamonos Pest Wrote:  

(04-04-2015 02:22 AM)Other Barry Wrote:  WNB

Probably in the minority here but I find that quite distasteful.

It's not distasteful. Everyone here feels bad for this girl but the WNB is almost platonically required in this context and its very inevitability is what makes it funny.

There is too much fear of language all around us and too much willingness to shame others and take meaningless offense where there isn't the least harm done. No need for it here.

Post: #11

(04-04-2015 02:22 AM)Other Barry Wrote:  WNB

I laughed quite heartily at this... see you guys in hell.

On another dickish note, I saw a child once with Progeria and it was incredibly disturbing. This is something I would wish on no one...

Post: #12

Poor kid.

But on a positive note, at least she didn't age as badly as Tara Reid.

Post: #13

Very sad, though I'm glad she was with her family at the end. Poor girl deserved every second of life she saw, and more.

Sam Bernes, who had the same condition, died just last January, and reading about his story was one of the things that helped me get over my approach anxiety -- continues to, in fact. There are still times where I'll see a hot girl and start giving myself the "out of her league" speech in my head, and I'll remember that there are kids like him and Hayley Okines, who would gladly trade their bodies for mine and dive into the world (let alone a simple chat with a member of the opposite sex) with gleeful abandon. If I had progeria, I'd yearn forever to be able to lift 100 pounds, to run a marathon, to drink a cold beer, to kiss a girl - or even get blown out with a "sorry I have a boyfriend."

RIP, Hayley.

Post: #14

(04-04-2015 05:39 PM)Altantis Wrote:  Poor kid.

But on a positive note, at least she didn't age as badly as Tara Reid.

Well played sir, well played.

Post: #15

(04-04-2015 05:39 PM)Altantis Wrote:  Poor kid.

But on a positive note, at least she didn't age as badly as Tara Reid.

:DDDDDDD
JUST when I thought it couldn't get any better than "WNB". This forum never fails to deliver the lolz