Old Before My Time

Hayley Okines is like no other 13-year-old schoolgirl.

In Old Before My Time, Hayley and her mum Kerry reflect on her unusual life. Share Hayley’s excitement as she travels the world meeting her pop heroes Kylie, Girls Aloud and Justin Bieber and her sadness as she loses her best friend to the disease at the age of 11. 

Now as she passes the age of 13 – the average life expectancy for a child with progeria  – Hayley talks frankly about her hopes for the future and her pioneering drug trials in America which could unlock the secrets of ageing for everyone...

Hayley Okines is like no other 13-year-old schoolgirl.

Born with the rare genetic condition progeria, she ages eight times faster than the average person. In medical terms her body is like that of a 100-year-old woman. Yet she faces her condition with immense courage and a refreshing lack of self-pity.

In Old Before My Time, Hayley and her mum Kerry reflect on her unusual life. Share Hayley’s excitement as she travels the world meeting her pop heroes Kylie, Girls Aloud and Justin Bieber and her sadness as she loses her best friend to the disease at the age of 11. 

Now as she passes the age of 13 – the average life expectancy for a child with progeria  – Hayley talks frankly about her hopes for the future and her pioneering drug trials in America which could unlock the secrets of ageing for everyone...

Introduction

My name is Hayley Okines and people tell me I am special.

I have a disease called Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria that makes me age eight times faster than other people.

The easiest way to explain it is it’s like my body is a hundred years old when I am actually thirteen, but I don’t like it when people call me old because I don’t feel like I am a hundred years old.

I am smaller than other kids my age. I have a brother, Louis, who is nine and a sister, Ruby, who is six. Although I am the big sister in the family they are actually bigger than me.

Mum says I am one in eight million because my condition is so rare. I have had lots of TV programmes made about me because I am so different, and people I don’t know come up to me and say, ‘Hi, have I seen you on the telly?’ and I have to smile and be polite.

Living with progeria is hard because people treat you like a baby. The worst is having all the treatment and needles. I have been going toAmericafor special treatment that we hope will cure my progeria. I know the new drugs will not make me look like other kids but they will help me to grow hair and live longer.

Sometimes people ask me if I could have three wishes would I wish I didn’t have progeria. And I say no. It would be good to not have it, and it would be fun to go out and not get stared at and not have loads of people ask questions. I would rather have progeria than not have it, though. Don’t ask me why, but I wouldn’t change it.

When Mum and Dad first found out I had progeria the doctors said I would only live to thirteen.

On December 3 2011, I will be fourteen.

I am not worried about dying. They said the Titanic wouldn’t sink but it did, so that proves experts can be wrong and I want to prove the doctors wrong.

My life with progeria is full of happiness and good memories. If I didn’t have progeria I would not have done most of the cool things I have done or met most of the cool people I have met.

Deep inside I am no different from anyone. We are all human.

Hayley Okines

Hayley Okines is like no other 13-year-old schoolgirl.

Born with the rare genetic condition progeria, she ages eight times faster than the average person. In medical terms her body is like that of a 100-year-old woman. Yet she faces her condition with immense courage and a refreshing lack of self-pity.

Hayley has been the face of Channel 5’s critically acclaimed Extraordinary People series since she was just 4 years old. Her films have aired to audiences of 1.7 million. Hayley is a captivating personality and is currently filming her fifth documentary Hayley’s Teenage Dream which will be broadcast on C5 in September. For the first time she will also narrate the documentary.

Alison Stokes

Alison Stokes is a writer and journalist.A former Trinity Mirror features editor, she is the co-author of several inspirational memoirs including the international best-seller Old Before My Time with Hayley Okines which was the subject of a Channel 5 Extraordinary People documentary; Running Free with Kate Allatt and Worlds Beyond Words which was published as part of the Quick Reads national literacy scheme. She also lectures in journalism at the University of South Wales and works as a publishing manager.

Customer Reviews:

This book was both moving and very interesting. Recommend to everyone. What a brave young lady. Should be proud. I could not put this book down. I wanted to follow Hayley and her journey (just like her TV series). Excellent.

i started to read this book a couple of nights ago i know it will be a fantastic book, Hayley is a great girl i have watched all the documentories that have been on the TV about her. she is an inspiration to us all. love her to bits.

I've just read the book in one afternoon. It's amazing, inspirational and it's great to be able to read things from 2 perspectives. Hayley is blessed to have such a great family, protective friends and to be able to see all the places she's seen and meet all the people she's met in her life! You really have to read this book, Hayley just makes you a better person!