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Why me?

"MOM, please forgive me but I can't take it anymore. Why me? I had so many plans about my life, but now it is just ruined because of the disease."

These were the painful words of GoodwillRamothata, 21, to his mother Josephine as he went through tests at Johannesburg's Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.

Ramothata, from Alexandra in Johannesburg, suffers from Xeroderma Pigmentosum. The condition means that he is too sensitive to the sun and is forced to stay indoors.

He was born with the condition. He consistently wears a towel around the face and head to cover his wounds.

The skin at the back of his head is so corroded it reveals his skull.

Yesterday, for the first time in three months, he was seen by a specialist at the hospital. In January, the hospital referred him back to Masakhane Clinic, saying they could no longer do anything for him.

The Gauteng health department organised that he be seen by a doctor after Sowetan ran his story.

His mother said tearfully: "Goodie, just be strong my boy, we have been through the worst. Just hold on."

Goodwill said: "You people do not understand. I'm in pain. No human is supposed to live like this. My life is over. I've had big dreams.

"I'm a musician and all I want is to have my own studio and a recording company. I have not released an album because of this pain."

Goodwill has self-recorded an 11-track hip-hop and R&B album. He was forced to drop out of school in Grade 9 in 2010.

Yesterday, he met dermatologist Professor Deepak Modi, who recommended he be admitted for further tests. While a doctor was examining him, Goodwill struggled to sit up straight because of back pains.

One of the doctors who will see him is a plastic surgeon.

During the examinations, Goodwill was shaking and his skin was pale and covered with freckles.

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