`Rare condition' girl finds a new friend

Physically, progeria sufferer Michaela has reached the age of 56 - the age by which doctors said she would die. Her parents have moved to Bexhill after finding another progeria girl, Hayley Okines, lives here.

The little-known illness is thought to affect only five children in Britain and was brought to the attention of the media by the Okines family of Jubilee Road.

Parents Kerry Button and Mark Okines took the step of talking to the local and national press about Hayley and her illness, which has recently received wide coverage.

Michaela's mum Elizabeth McAvoy, 26, and dad Patrick Doyle, 31, moved from Sheffield in November.

"Hayley is the reason we moved here. We want the girls to be together.

"In Sheffield Michaela was really poorly. She had to use a wheelchair and was sick all the time, but since moving here she's like a different child."

The family are hoping to raise funds to go to America where extensive research into the condition is under way.

Meanwhile, they are finding it helps to be around another family dealing with the same illness.

Patrick said: "If we find something new with Michaela, something she hasn't suffered from before, we tell Kerry and Mark."

"Michaela loves being around Hayley, and she has made a best friend at school who she just can't be parted from." said Elizabeth.

For information on fund raising contact the Bexhill Observer.