Zoe Lush was born with severe osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), commonly known as brittle bone disease. Her bones were already fracturing inside the womb. By the time she turned one, she had suffered more than 100 breaks.

Even careful handling after birth could cause another fracture. Simple everyday actions — a startle reflex, a slight bump, or even being moved too quickly — risked breaking her delicate bones. Her parents, Chelsea and Curtis Lush of Huntington Beach, California, learned to splint fractures themselves while working closely with doctors to protect her fragile body.

Zoe has Type III OI, one of the more severe forms that children can survive. She has broken nearly every bone in her body over the years. At one point, bones in her neck began to wear away, putting her at risk of internal decapitation and requiring surgery and a cervical collar for stability. She has undergone multiple procedures, including the insertion of metal rods in her limbs to help support her bones, and has spent significant time in hospital and in a wheelchair.

Despite the constant pain and limitations, Zoe’s personality has remained a bright constant. Family and those who have met her describe a child who keeps smiling and giggling through challenges that would overwhelm many adults. Her parents have said her presence and laughter often lift the hardest days.

There is no cure for osteogenesis imperfecta. Treatment focuses on strengthening bones as much as possible (with medications such as bisphosphonates), preventing and managing fractures, surgical interventions when needed, physical therapy, and careful daily care to minimize risk. Zoe’s story, widely shared in 2017 when she was six, highlighted both the extreme fragility of severe OI and the resilience of a child living with it.

Zoe has continued to grow up with the condition, using mobility aids and adapting to life’s demands while retaining the determined, cheerful spirit that defined her from the start.

Sources:

• Contemporary reporting from 2017 by The Mirror, New York Post, Daily Mail, Barcroft Media / Born Different features, and related interviews with Chelsea and Curtis Lush.
• Descriptions of Zoe’s prenatal fractures, early fracture count exceeding 100, surgeries, neck complications, and her enduring smile drawn from family accounts and documentary coverage.