Lindsay Ratcliffe, 4, of Flat Rock, plays hopscotch in her front driveway, while her parents, Kristy and Joe Ratcliffe, look on, Thursday, July 17, 2008. Ratcliffe was diagnosed with Progeria when she was 5 five months old, and is a disease that ages children 8 times faster than normal giving them a short life expectancy.
Lindsay Ratcliffe, 4, of Flat Rock was diagnosed with Progeria, a disease of accelerated aging, caused by a genetic defect that is known to affect 46 children worldwide.
FOR TWIST0727_singleLeslie Herrick CQkpm, 43, of Dearborn, enjoys dinner with friends at Andiamo's Restaurant in Dearborn, Mich., Friday, July 11, 2008. Herrick is single in the city. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
FOR TWIST0803_lindsayLindsay Ratcliffe CQkpm,4, plays with her mother, Kristy Ratcliffe CQkpm, while her father, (not pictured) Joe Ratcliffe CQkpm, looks on, at their home in Flat Rock, Mich., Thursday, July 17,2008. Lindsay was diagnosed with Progeria, which ages you eight times faster than normal, when she was only five moths old. Recent studies have paved the way for The Progeria Research Foundation to begin an FTI clinical trial for children with Progeria. For the first time, there is a possible treatment or even cure for children with Progeria. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
FOR TWIST0803_lindsayLindsay Ratcliffe CQkpm, 4, of Flat Rock, was diagnosed with Progeria when she was 5 five months old. Prgoeria is a disease that ages children 8 times faster than normal giving them a short life expectancy. Ratcliffe was photographed at her home in Flat Rock, Mich., photographed July , 2008. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
Lindsay Ratcliffe CQkpm, 5, of Flat Rock, writes her name on her artwork during her pre-school class at Flat Rock Pre-School in Flat Rock, Mich., on Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Lindsay has a disease called Progeria which accelerates the aging process and puts her at risk of an early death from heart disease. Lindsay's family stages a fundraising walk every May, and they're struggling for support in this economy. Research for her disease is driven by the money families struggle to raise. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
Lindsay Ratcliffe, 5, of Flat Rock, (in pink) plays computer games during her pre-school class at Flat Rock Pre-School in Flat Rock, Mich., on Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Lindsay has a disease called Progeria which accelerates the aging process and puts her at risk of an early death from heart disease. Lindsay's family stages a fundraising walk every May, and they're struggling for support in this economy. Research for her disease is driven by the money families struggle to raise. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
Lindsay Ratcliffe CQkpm, 5, of Flat Rock, plays learning games on the computer with her classmate, Angelina Szuch, CQkpm, 5, of Brownstown Twp, at Flat Rock Pre-School in Flat Rock, Mich., on Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Lindsay has a disease called Progeria which accelerates the aging process and puts her at risk of an early death from heart disease. Lindsay's family stages a fundraising walk every May, and they're struggling for support in this economy. Research for her disease is driven by the money families struggle to raise. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
FOR TWIST0727_twistendTwo Halfling horses and a Clidesdale graze in a field at a farm in Schwartz Creek, Mich., Tuesday, July 15, 2008. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
Lindsay Ratcliffe CQkpm, 5, of Flat Rock, right, passes the ball to her classmates, Avery Kings CQkpm, 4, of Flat Rock, left, and Hannah Beneteau CQkpm, of Taylor, during play time at Flat Rock Pre-School in Flat Rock, Mich., on Wednesday, March 25, 2009. Lindsay has a disease called Progeria which accelerates the aging process and puts her at risk of an early death from heart disease. Lindsay's family stages a fundraising walk every May, and they're struggling for support in this economy. Research for her disease is driven by the money families struggle to raise. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
FOR TWIST0727_singleLeslie Herrick CQkpm, 43, of Dearborn, enjoys dinner with friends at Andiamo's Restaurant in Dearborn, Mich., Friday, July 11, 2008. Herrick is single in the city. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
FOR TWIST0803_lindsayLindsay Ratcliffe CQkpm, 4, of Flat Rock, puts flour on her dad, Joe Ratcliffe's CQkpm, 29, of Flat Rock, face while making chocolate chip cookies, Lindsay's favorite, at their home, July 2008. Lindsay was diagnosed with Progeria when she was 5 five months old. Prgoeria is a disease that ages children 8 times faster than normal giving them a short life expectancy. Recent studies have paved the way for The Progeria Research Foundation to begin an FTI clinical trial for children with Progeria. For the first time, there is a possible treatment or even cure for children with Progeria. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
FOR TWIST0727_twistendTwo Halfling horses and a Clidesdale graze in a field at a farm in Schwartz Creek, Mich., Tuesday, July 15, 2008. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
FOR TWIST0727_twistendTwo Halfling horses and a Clidesdale graze in a field at a farm in Schwartz Creek, Mich., Tuesday, July 15, 2008. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
FOR TWIST0803_lindsayLindsay Ratcliffe CQkpm, 4, of Flat Rock, plays with her dad, Joe Ratcliffe CQkpm, 29, of Flat Rock in their home, Wednesday, July 16,2008. Lindsay was diagnosed with Progeria when she was 5 five months old. Prgoeria is a disease that ages children 8 times faster than normal giving them a short life expectancy. Recent studies have paved the way for The Progeria Research Foundation to begin an FTI clinical trial for children with Progeria. For the first time, there is a possible treatment or even cure for children with Progeria. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press
FOR TWIST0727_twistendTwo Halfling horses and a Clidesdale graze in a field at a farm in Schwartz Creek, Mich., Tuesday, July 15, 2008. KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL/Detroit Free Press