I’m 19 But People Say I Look Like An Old Man | BORN DIFFERENT

6 months ago
84

SUBSCRIBE to Truly: http://bit.ly/Oc61Hj

19-YEAR-OLD TikTok sensation Harry was born with an ultra-rare genetic condition called neuroblastoma amplified sequence (NBAS). The symptoms of the condition are wide-ranging, as Harry's mom Rebecca told truly: "It affects many, many aspects of his body - he's registered blind, he's a type 1 diabetic, he's autistic, he's got brittle bones as well." In addition, Harry's immune system is severely compromised, so he sits through a one-hour-long infusion once per week to help fight infections and keep him out of hospital. Rebecca and Harry's dad Christian have provided 24-hour care for their son throughout his life, helping him with everything from getting dressed to preparing food - but since he turned 18, Harry's independence has become a key priority. With an unrivalled passion for dinosaurs and animals, Harry was adamant he wanted to share his encyclopaedic knowledge with the world - and while Rebecca was fearful of the response from people online, she embarked on the journey into TikTok with Harry. His account is now closing in on a million followers and his comments section has been filled with overwhelmingly positive feedback, but some comments have caught the family off guard - particularly around Harry's perceived age. As Rebecca explained: "People have said they can't tell whether he's five or he could be 55. He's quite a gentleman, he's quite old-fashioned." The family haven't let this phase them at all and they are now hoping to use their platform to raise money for research into Harry's condition to help other families in the future. Because the condition is so rare - "almost impossible, in fact" as Harry describes it - funding has run out and the family have set up a fundraising page in the hope of resuming research as soon as possible. In the meantime, Harry is preparing to start farming college later this year - a "perfect" fit for such an animal lover - and regardless of what comes next, Harry knows that being "unique" is something to be proud of above all else.

Please consider donating to Harry's fundraiser to support medical research into NBAS: https://www.justgiving.com/page/rebecca-ellis-1698474212706

Follow Harry on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sopharry0

Videographer: Scott Dulson
Producers: Kim Nguyen, Tom Buckman, Courtney Buabeng
Editor: Renee Wong

Loading comments...