SAEDNEWS: A young American is suffering from a very rare disease that only about 700 people worldwide have. It is a genetic disorder that gradually causes his muscles to turn into bone over time.
According to Saed News, quoted by Bitoteh, Joe Sutch, 29, was born with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), a rare condition known as “Stone Man Syndrome,” which leads to a 95% loss of mobility.
Joe uses a wheelchair and requires assistance for daily activities such as eating, going to the bathroom, and bathing.
Joe, who documents his life on YouTube, says: “There is nothing in my body except bone, and this severely restricts my movement. My ligaments and muscles turn into bone.” He adds: “It feels like someone is stabbing them with knives. Unfortunately, there is no cure for my condition, and it progressively worsens until I completely lose the ability to move.”
It was first discovered when Joe was only three years old that he had this disease. At school, he could not participate in games with other children, which made him feel isolated and depressed.
Joe lives with his parents in New York, who help him with daily activities. He says his lifestyle has greatly affected his ability to form relationships, but despite everything, he is still searching for true love through dating apps.
Although clinical trials for potential treatments exist, he prefers not to think too much about them, as he feels there is no real possibility of improvement in his condition.
