Only around 2,000 people in the world are said to have the condition, and there is currently no known cure. The effects of the disease have caused Hartshorn a great deal of hardship and discomfort.
Sadly, lipodystrophy is a family affair for the Hartshorns: Zara’s mother, Tracey, suffers from the same genetic disorder, as do two of Zara’s siblings. But the affects of lipodystrophy are especially pronounced in Zara; at 13, she looks older than her 21-year-old sister Jolene and 16-year-old brother Tommy, though both also have the disease. For details read full NBC article.
