The woman who is turning to 'STONE' by developing a second skeleton

Looking at her from a distance you wouldn't she's suffering from such illness.

A sociology graduate is battling a rare and disabling condition which is turning her body into stone.

Whitney Weldon, 23, was diagnosed with the incredibly rare Stone Man Syndrome or fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive (FOP) when she was nine.

The disorder causes muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues in the body to turn into bone.

Even the slightest knock can accelerate the growth of new bone, and freeze her into place like a statue.

Over the years her condition has got progressively worse, and she now has limited movement in her arms, legs and head. 

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Whitney Weldon, 23, was diagnosed with the incredibly rare Stone Man Syndrome or fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive (FOP) when she was nine. She is pictured at her graduation 

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The condition causes her body's joints, muscles and ligaments to turn into bone. It has progressively got worse and now even the slightest knock causes her joints to solidify

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She now has limited movement in her arms, legs and head and uses a wheelchair to move around. She also has a full time carer to help her cook, get dressed and bathe

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She uses a wheelchair and has a full time carer who helps her cook, get dressed and bathe.

And while she is likely to get worse as she ages, she hopes there will be advancements in medicine that can help her.

Miss Weldon, of New Jersey, US, said: 'I stay positive and don't think about my body turning to stone.