Keshav and Anjali Kumar from Jharkhand, India, contend with two rare conditions: cutis laxa and progeria. These disorders give the children the appearance of tiny elderly people, characterized by wrinkled faces and sagging skin.
In addition to these visible symptoms, they experience joint pain and endure harsh ridicule from their peers. This article explores the lives of these young Indians who have faced premature aging.
The unusual story of these siblings first gained international attention in 2016. At that time, Anjali was 7 years old, and her younger brother Keshav was only 18 months old.
Despite their young ages, they looked much older, with wrinkled and drooping skin, and suffered from joint pain typically seen in older individuals.
Keshav and Anjali were diagnosed with progeria and cutis laxa—two extremely rare and currently incurable conditions.
In 2016, it was reported that their parents, Shatrughan Rajak and Rinki Devi, sought treatment for their children, but Indian doctors could offer little assistance.
The medical community could only provide minimal relief, and due to the family’s financial struggles, they could not afford costly treatments, relying instead on ineffective homeopathic remedies.
Fortunately, increased global awareness of Keshav and Anjali’s situation led to improvements. The charitable organization Care Today Fund intervened, providing medical support.
The children received facial surgeries to reduce wrinkles and address sagging skin. As a result, they look considerably better today than they did in 2016.
