A Rare Disease Makes This Newborn Resemble An Old Man

Mel Johnson

Newborn Resembles An Old Man: The Real Life Benjamin Button

People are calling a baby boy in India the real-life Benjamin Button. That's because the newborn resembles an old man. And while it made for a shocking sight at the delivery, his parents know this sweet boy is nothing less than a blessing! Credit: Caters News Agency

A Surprise At The Delivery

Born in Bangladesh, doctors were quite shocked to deliver a baby boy who looked more like a tiny 80-year-old man than a newborn!

"The baby does not look like a newborn at all," said one of the doctors treating him. "There are prominent sings of aging such a excessive wrinkles and rough skin texture."

[rsnippet id="3"] But while their son may look wildly different than your typical "bouncing baby boy," his loving parents are overjoyed by his arrival. And just as they should be!

"We can only thank God," his father said. "There is no need to be unhappy about the appearance of my son." 

RELATED: Real life 'Beauty And The Beast': An unlikely friendship between a girl with progeria and a 330 pound weight lifter

Why This Newborn Resembles An Old Man

Doctors suspect a rare disease called progeria -- a condition that affects just one in four million -- is behind the baby boy's accelerated aging. The genetic disorder comes from a single mistake in a gene which causes it to make an abnormal protein called progerin. This protein breaks down more easily, and as it builds up in many cells of children with progeria, it causes these kids to age more quickly. While doctors assure the boy's parents that their baby will be just fine for now, they are unsure of what the future holds for their little one. The sad reality is that most children with this disease don't live past the age of 13. RELATED: A 17-year-old with progeria has strength that will inspire you The family, however, is having faith that their son will defy the odds and live a long and happy life.

"We will accept him the way he is," his father explains. "We are so happy to have a baby boy in the house. We are already blessed to have to have a daughter. Now we are a family of four. What else can we ask for?"

Credit: Caters News Agency This precious boy will certainly be in our prayers. We have no doubt that God has big plans for this little angel! "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate." Psalm 127:3-5 [rsnippet id="2"]

This little girl's sweet prayer helped her mom understand why we sometimes have to wait on God!

  h/t: Daily Mail

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