Pria ini memiliki penyakit penuaan langka. Kenyataannya, pria ini baru berusia 20 tahun, namun karena penyakitnya, tubuhnya telah berubah menjadi berusia 160 tahun.
Tubuh Dean Andrews menua delapan kali lebih cepat dibanding tubuh orang normal. Hal ini terjadi akibat kondisi langka yang disebut sebagai Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria (HGP).
Di dunia, sejauh ini baru ada 74 kasus penyakit ini diketahui dan Andrews menjadi orang kedua yang berhasil bertahan hidup lama.
“Saya tak pernah membiarkan kondisi ini mengekang saya. Saya selalu mencoba melakukan apa yang dilakukan semua orang. Keluarga dan teman mendukung saya,” katanya seperti dikutip DM.
Di sisi lain, kebanyakan ahli belum pernah mendengar kondisi langka ini. Selain itu, ahli mengaku tak bisa memperkirakan berapa lama lagi Andrews bisa hidup.
Speaking out: Dean Andrews, 20, has told of his
life with progeria, a rare ageing disease that meant he was unlikely to
survive his early teens
'I'm lucky to be so loved': Dean with his mother Dawn Thomas, 41, and her husband Wayne, 43, who care for him full-time.
'They said he was just small': Aged two (left),
Dean was developing differently from other children and would grow tired
more easily. It was not until the age of seven (right) that a
geneticist would diagnose him
Living life to the full: Dean, pictured aged seven (left) and nine (right), enjoyed an active childhood
Supportive: Dean (left) with younger sister Sophie, mother Dawn, stepfather Wayne, older brother Nathan and brother Lewis
Hero: Left, England footballer Emile Heskey
presents Dean with Birmingham City's supporter of the year award. Right,
Dean poses for a portrait aged nine, two years after his diagnosis
Fun-loving: Motoring fan Dean aged 13, being lifted by models at Max Power car show
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