A GOTHIC-obsessed mum has decided to undergo an extreme make-under to surprise her partner and 6-year-old daughter. Emily Boo, from Ipswich, has dressed in black since she was a teen and has collected over 150 modifications including facial tattoos and piercings. As a part of Truly's brand new series, Transformed, she stepped out of her comfort zone and tried out what she describes as a "basic b*****" look. Emily told Truly: “Black is my happy colour. It’s been so long since I’ve seen myself without tattoos or piercings. It makes me feel so anxious for some reason.”
A SCIENTIST with a rare premature ageing condition has devoted his life to finding a cure for others with the disorder. Sammy Basso, 25, from Venice, Italy, has Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and is one of only 179 known cases in the world. Sammy’s condition means he is just 4ft 6" (1.38m) tall and weighs only 44lbs (20kg). Outward characteristics of progeria include prominent eyes, visible veins on the scalp, hair loss and a lack of fat under the skin. However, it also carries a high risk of more serious complications such as joint issues, strokes and heart disease - all associated with ageing - and the average mortality rate for people with progeria is only 14.5 years. Determined not to be a victim of his condition, Sammy became a molecular biologist and wrote his graduate thesis on progeria. He said: "Progeria helped me understand what I want to do in my life. I want to change the world - in my little way. We are working to cure progeria, we know the theory, we just have to understand how to apply that medically." Sammy is also the founder of the Italian Association of Progeria Sammy Basso, a non-profit which provides information about progeria and supports scientific research into it. Sammy also has a special wheelchair he can sit in while the Sammy Runners - amateur runners from the local running club - take him for a ride, with their next target being the Milan Marathon. Sammy said: “If I could choose to be born again, I would like this life, but of course I’m working for a better future."
HYDEIA Broadbent hit headlines when she was a child as one of the first generation of children in the US born with HIV. She's spent her whole life campaigning for HIV awareness and to destigmatize the condition - but Hydeia's work has impacted her dating life. After coming out of a long term relationship a few years ago Hydeia has struggled with dating, in part due to her HIV status. She told Truly: "Dating with HIV has been challenging - certain guys don't understand the science" and "let their fear take over". Now Hydeia is looking for "someone who is down to earth" and "open-minded". We follow her on a blind date with investor and podcast host Jake. As they meet, Hydeia opens up about her HIV status and activism and Jake opens up about his sobriety journey. Neither of the pair have ever been on a blind date before: will they hit it off and want to see each other again?
Hydeia -
https://www.instagram.com/hydeiabrodbent/
https://www.facebook.com/HydeiaBroadbentFan/
Jake -
https://www.instagram.com/jakegallen/
https://twitter.com/jakegallen_
Being an astronaut is awesome, but there's an earthly issue that makes their job a little...unpleasant. For the crew of Apollo 16 passing gas in zero gravity was a very common and very smelly trade-off for being able to stroll on the moon.