MEET the twins battling a one-in-two-million condition that is slowly turning their muscles to bone. Lucy and Zoe, 30, from Northern Ireland, were both born with fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). The condition, which is so rare that the sisters are one of just three sets of twins in the world known to have it, causes muscle tissues and tendons to be replaced by bone, growing outside the skeleton. Zoe said: "Your body becomes frozen, like a statue." Their journey started at just five years old, when Zoe fell off the sofa and broke her arm. Instead of recovering as normal, she couldn't straighten her limb anymore because bone had grown over the joint. Several tests later, the girls were officially diagnosed with FOP. Despite the medical challenges they faced, they enjoyed a happy childhood. As adults, though, they have become more affected by the condition - with Zoe, who now requires a walker or wheelchair to get around, particularly impacted. Lucy said: "I'd like to be able to take it all away from her." Knowing exactly how the other is feeling means Zoe and Lucy have forged an unbreakable bond, and often document their adventures together on Instagram, where they are both trying to raise awareness of FOP. Though it is uncertain how the condition will continue to progress in the future, both women are determined to stay positive. Lucy concluded: "FOP is so unpredictable, so all we can do is love life and live life."
Zoe: https://www.instagram.com/a_littlebitoflife/
Lucy: https://www.instagram.com/allthingsbeautifullymade/
