Meet Little Indian Siblings With Rare Skin Condition That’s Left Them Looking Like Great-grandparents

Indian siblings, Keshav Kumar, 18 months, and his sister, Anjali Kumari, 7, suffer from a rare condition that leaves them looking like great-grandparents. The siblings who are reportedly stared at on the streets and teased, dream of looking like other children their own age. Unfortunately, doctors in India say their condition has no cure.

They suffer from a rare form of Progeria as well as a disease called Cutis Laxa.

Little Anjali told MailOnline:

‘I know I’m different from others my age. I have a different kind of face, a different body, different everything. I have a swollen face while the rest of the world looks normal. People always stare at me and pass bad comments. The children in school call me names like daadi Amma (grandmother), budhiya (old lady), bandariya (monkey), or hanuman (a Hindu monkey lord) and it annoys me. I want to be treated like a normal kid and I want to be accepted for who I am.

I really wish I could look as pretty as my sister. My parents hope that I will be okay one day but it makes me feel sad that my family suffer and feel embarrassed because of me. My only wish is for a cure. I want to live a long pain free life.’

The siblings live with their father, Shatrughan Rajak, 40, mother Rinki Devi, 35, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, and their older sister daughter Shilpi, 11, who do not have the disease.

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Their dad Shatrughan, a laundry man, said: ‘We dream there is a cure for my children. People in our community call them ‘old’ and it’s heartbreaking. We’ve tried to get help from our local doctors but they have told us our only hope is from overseas. We’re a poor family and doctor visits are expensive. They couldn’t do anything for Anjali so we knew they couldn’t do anything for Keshav either.’

Anjali already experiences ailments usually suffered by pensioners. Her joints hurt, she has breathing issues, her skin is sagging and her eye sight is poor. And due to her low immunity she picks up illnesses quickly.

While Anjali goes to school and is very aware of her unusual condition, Keshav is too young to notice.

Mother Rinki, 35, said: ‘I massage Anjali’s legs all the time, she’s always in pain. It breaks my heart to see my kids this way. Anjali keeps asking when will she be like her sister. She’s very much aware and is affected by her appearance.’

Shatrughan spends over 500 Rupees (£5) a month on homeopathic treatment for Anjali and Keshav but it doesn’t seem to be having much affect.