Two-year-old Isla Kilpatrick-Screaton from Leicester is unlike any other child in the world, owing to her extremely rare genetic disorder known as mandibuloacral dysplasia. This condition, sometimes referred to as “Benjamin Button disease” due to its rapid aging effect on cells, began affecting Isla before she was even born.

Her parents, Stacey Kilpatrick, 33, and Kyle Screaton, 36, were left bewildered when they received the diagnosis for their daughter’s ailment. They were told that her condition is so unique that the particular gene mutation responsible for her disorder had never been seen before. Medical experts advised them to start researching Isla’s condition because there was limited knowledge available about it.

Isla’s journey has been marked by numerous challenges. At two years old, she weighs only 15 pounds and struggles to communicate verbally, relying mainly on Makaton sign language. Her bones are distorted by the disorder, making daily tasks more challenging.

One of the most significant obstacles in her path is a heart condition and narrow airways that affect her breathing. Her health condition has caused her parents to become her full-time caregivers.

Her father humorously calls her “grandma” due to her unique appearance, which, like the disease’s namesake, makes her look far older than her actual age. While Isla’s appearance might seem unusual, she is a happy child who enjoys playing with her seven-year-old sister, Paige.