Celebrating a Milestone in Her Life

Despite living with a rare disease, young girl wants to make her dreams come true

- Vincent Phahlane

SHE’S a young woman determined to make the best out of her life despite living with Progeria – a rare disease that causes premature aging. Ontlametse Phalatse (17), from Hebron in North West, recently celebrated a milestone in her life when she completed matric. She shares with Move! some of the challenges she has faced in her life.

DISCOVERING HER ILLNESS

Ontlametse, who lives with her mother and brother, says life was difficult when she was growing up because she was different. She was born like any other child, but her mom began to worry when she started getting constant rashes that could not be cured. She was finally diagnosed with Progeria.

“Growing up, life was not easy. I was different from other children and I didn’t know much about my disease,” says Ontlametse. Being one of a few South Africans diagnosed with Progeria, it was difficult for her to get the right treatment.