Twins Elis and Eloá turned three years old on May 4. The girls, who live in Boa Vista, Roraima, were diagnosed with progeria – also known as Huntchinson-Gilford Syndrome – a very rare condition that causes the child to age rapidly.
According to the Progeria Research Foundation (PRF), in the United States, the girls are the only known twins in the world with this specific genetic condition.
The little ones are a big hit on social media, adding up to almost a million followers on Instagram and more than 2 million on TikTok. The eldest brother, Guilherme Iago, 21, created the profiles to keep the sisters’ special moments .
In a post on Instagram, Guilherme celebrated the date of the anniversary, which he says means “an achievement” and “a victory”. Currently, life expectancy for people diagnosed with progeria — a term meaning “prematurely old” — is 14 years for girls and 16 for boys.
This time, the family chose to celebrate differently from other years. “Our house is under renovation, so, we decided to tidy up their room instead of spending on the celebration,” explained the girls’ mother, Elismar Lima Carneiro, 40, in an interview with Crescer, from Globo.
“Three years have passed since you arrived to fill our lives with love and inspiration. With each achievement, even if small, we celebrate together, because each step taken is a victory over adversity,” Guilherme began in the caption of the video in which he shows their evolution in the midst of treatments.
Next, the brother points out that the twins are much more than a “diagnosis”. “It will never define who they are. You are so much more than any label or prognosis. You are symbols of strength, courage, and unconditional love.”
“Each day by your side teaches me to value the simple things, the everyday, the ordinary. I learned that life is in the details and that every moment is precious,” he concluded.
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