Suffering from Brittle Bone Disease, Kerala's 'Glass Woman' appears for UPSC entrance exam

NEW DELHI: Latheesha Ansari is two-feet tall and weighs 14 kgs. She suffers from a rare bone condition, "Brittle Bone Disease", yet it was not enough to deter her from taking the UPSC entrance examination held on Sunday.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is a rare bone disease which causes bones to break and weakness in muscles accompanied by several issues related to biological growth.
On Sunday, Ansari, supported by 4-5 hours of oxygen, appeared for the Civil Services entrance examination in Kerala's Kottayam.
Ansari who is popular by the name of "Glass Woman" is well aware of the fact that there is no 100% cure for the disease. Her indomitable spirit has refused to relent and she has become an inspiration for not only those who have the same disease but also for hundreds of people around her.
Diagnosed at an early age, Ansari has broken several of her bones. To this date, she has been treated for over 400 bone fractures. Even a small movement of the limb can cause a fracture in her bones. However, it has not deterred her from living an independent life.
After completing her graduation, she finished her masters programme in finance from the same college. Her Facebook profile mentions her profession as keyboardist.
She has received several awards for empowering people with disabilities. She received the Bhoomika award by Eastern Condiments in empowering persons living with severe disabilities. The local municipality awarded her with Vanitha Rethnam Award "for her deep courage, strong belief and determination.