The exceptionally small child was born with a rare variant of the dwarf condition
Born in Louisiana, USA, this two-year-old girl goes by the name Abigail Lee. However, what has astounded everyone is her incredibly small stature. Abigail is afflicted with a condition known as Dwarfism, which hampers normal height growth and makes her a victim of this condition. Medical professionals have determined that her height will not surpass 24 inches.
Abigail’s mother, Emily Lee, 25, from Louisiana, discovered that her baby was not growing at the expected rate during her pregnancy. When Abigail was born via C-section, she weighed a mere 2lbs 9oz. Emily, a mother of two, shared, “Abigail grows two grams a day compared to an ounce a day, so she’ll still be seven pounds at her next birthday. She only just fits into newborn clothes, so I don’t know what we’ll do when she gets old enough to tell me that she doesn’t want to wear onesies anymore. My best friend has a two-year-old, and seeing them side by side is mind-blowing.”
Toys designed for children her age appear gigantic next to her. She possesses a table and chairs for her Barbies that she can fit into herself. Although she eats like a regular child, there are several activities typical of a two-year-old that she cannot perform due to her size. Abigail’s slow growth was evident to her parents, but she was officially diagnosed with the condition at eight weeks old. During that time, she had to stay in the hospital, but eventually, she was able to return home with her mother, father Bryan, 25, and her older sister Samantha, four, who does not have the same condition.
Emily explained, “During my pregnancy, she was consistently three weeks behind in her development. I had a C-section at 36 weeks, and she went straight into intensive care. She was functioning normally in terms of breathing and eating, but she was tiny. We had never heard of this type of Dwarfism when she was diagnosed, so we had absolutely no idea what it was. For months, I struggled to find anyone who had gone through the same experience and could offer assistance. The day she received her diagnosis, I sat in my car in the hospital parking lot and cried for two hours because I didn’t know what to do. Now, at the age of two, Abigail faces a few challenges caused by her condition.”
What is Microcephalic Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism Type II, and how common is it?
- This condition is characterized by small size, a small head, and abnormal bone growth. Additional features may include a high-pitched voice, distinct facial features, scoliosis, small teeth, and vascular abnormalities. The heads of individuals born with this condition cease growing by 18 months of age, resulting in microcephaly (disproportionately small head compared to the rest of the body). The intellectual development of those with M.O.P.D. Type II is generally unaffected. Only 150 cases of this pathology are documented worldwide. Life expectancy is typically reduced, but individuals with M.O.P.D. Type II can live until the age of 30.
Emily remarked, “She is healthy, but she faces complications due to her dislocated hips, which she was born with. She cannot walk, but she crawls and undergoes therapy. She also has severe eyesight problems, making it difficult to find glasses that fit her. Balancing the needs of a child with special needs and a child without is challenging because Samantha knows her sister requires more assistance. Samantha is an absolute rock star; she actively participates in all the therapy sessions and is very protective.”
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