Latina Teen With a 90-Year-Old Body Celebrates her Quinceañera; Find out About her Rare Aging Disease Here!

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Magali Gonzalez Sierra recently celebrated her quinceañera or the Latin equivalent to an American teenager's sweet sixteen party. What makes her birthday extra-special is because she's suffering from a rare aging disease with doctors estimating she would only live until she's 13.

The 15-year-old girl from Colombia has Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome or HGPS, a genetic condition that has greatly aged her body to that of a 90-year old. Because of her physical state, Magali is no longer able to walk and has medication for maintenance, according to Daily Mail.

She has indeed reached a milestone that defied her doctors' diagnosis, so her parents gave her a coming out party deserving of a princess. Magali wore a gown, tiara and makeup to celebrate her quinceañera among friends and family on Jan. 18.

"She told me she wants her party; that even though she doesn't dance, she wants us to dance," Magali's mother told the press, per Daily Star. "She wants balloons and celebrations and that people come."

What is Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome?

HGPS was intensely studied by experts Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson and Dr. Hastings Gilford in 1886 and 1897. It is believed that a person affected with the condition has a gene defect called LMNA (lamin-a) that makes proteins unstable in the cell leading to the body's premature aging, according to Progeria Research. A baby with HGPS is born looking like any regular and healthy child but, eventually, the baby's physical characteristics change by the time she's 24 months.

What are the symptoms of HGPS?

The baby's skin is the first to age and then the size of the head, face and nose start to change as well. HGPS babies also don't grow taller and heavier than typical kids but their mental capacity and intelligence continue to develop normally, according to Genome. Progeria babies also experience the usual medical conditions associated with aging like hip dislocation, joint stiffness and cardiovascular diseases.

Is there a cure for HGPS?

Per Mayo Clinic, there is no known cure for the condition but patients usually take low-dose aspirin and other medications to manage their heart conditions. They may also have to undergo physical therapy for their hip and joint problems. Some patients might require heart surgery in their early life as the heart problems become worse. In fact, heart attack and stroke are the common causes of death and a child with progeria has an average lifespan of 13-years old, per Genome.