Sulami, a 35-year-old woman from the Sragen region of Indonesia, is plagued by rare genetic disease “bamboo spine”, which has seen her back stiffen gradually over 25 years. /CFP Photo
Sulami can only walk slowly with the aid of a stick, and she cannot bend her legs or sit down to get out of bed. /CFP Photo
In addition to making the body stiff, the disease can also lead to cardiovascular disease, inflammation of the eye, vertebral fractures, chest infections, and kidney disease. /CFP Photo