Seven-year-old Olivia Farnsworth was hit by a car and dragged approximately half the length of a football field, yet she did not scream or cry. Witnesses reported that when the car stopped, she stood up as if nothing had happened and walked calmly to her mother. Now a teenager in the UK, Olivia has one of the rarest genetic conditions known to medical science: a chromosome 6 deletion, which prevents her from feeling pain, hunger, or tiredness.
The Bionic Girl
Olivia Farnsworth made headlines after the 2016 accident, earning the nickname 'bionic' due to her composed reaction. Her genetic condition is so unique that she may be the only person in the world with these specific symptoms. Doctors were baffled when they realized she felt no pain following the nearly fatal incident. She barely eats or sleeps, can stay awake for three days straight without fatigue, and has no sense of danger.
Early Childhood Signs
According to her mother, Niki, Olivia exhibited a different personality from childhood. She did not cry as a baby and failed to grow hair. She became a fussy eater, consuming only butter sandwiches for an entire year. Her mother recalled, 'She got run over and dragged down the street by a car, and she didn’t complain. She was dragged about ten car lengths down the road. It was horrendous; I don’t think it’s something I will ever get over.'
Recalling the Accident
Niki described the incident to Yorkshire Live: 'I was screaming and all my other children were screaming as she ran out. But Olivia was just like, ‘What’s going on?’ She just got up and started walking back to me. The hospital said she’s bionic. Because of the impact, she should have had severe injuries.' Olivia had tyre marks on her chest and no skin on her hip, yet she showed no distress.
Raising Awareness
Niki, who wants to raise awareness of the condition, said, 'To look at Olivia, you don’t know anything’s wrong with her. I want people to know and to stop judging.' She added, 'She’ll be the first to share her sweets with you. She’s got the best personality. She’s just crazy, but in a good way. Everybody laughs because she’s so wild and extreme. She says, ‘Let’s jump off here’, and all the other children are like, ‘That’s way too high!’'
