In a remote village along the Long Maram road, where dust fills the air due to the dry season, resides a unique two-year-old baby who appears older than her years. Virsaviya, the little girl, has been dubbed “grandma” by locals because of her aged appearance.
The situation escalated to a ceremony between her parents, as her father suspected infidelity due to the baby’s elderly countenance. Despite being two years old, Virsaviya neither eats nor sees, and she can only cry incessantly until she is breastfed.
Valentina, Virsaviya’s mother, faces relentless bullying and trolling due to her daughter’s condition. Whenever strangers approach, she flees, fearing their judgment and ridicule.
Valevntina recalls the difficult day of Virsaviya’s birth via cesarean section, fraught with breathing difficulties. The doctors diagnosed her with progeria, a rare condition caused by an abnormal protein in the LMNA gene, accelerating aging up to ten times faster than normal.
Her husband’s disbelief and subsequent abuse led Valentina to flee, taking only Virsaviya with her. The baby’s health remains fragile, and Valentina struggles to afford her medicine. She is apprehensive about Virsaviya’s future, as the child shows no signs of improvement and cannot even swallow or grow.
Virsaviya’s life is a cycle of crying and breastfeeding, as she struggles with her condition. Valentina yearns for support and encouragement but faces only mockery and discouragement from her community.
Despite the challenges, Valentina finds solace in her occasional visits to her other children. She longs for acceptance and understanding, believing that consistent love and attention could alleviate their struggles.
In the silence of her isolated home, Valentina dreams of a community that embraces her family with compassion and empathy. It’s a simple wish, but one that could ease the burden of their challenging journey.
