Acromegaly

Most people, especially us Asians, want to grow tall. Statuesque like a model, tall like an NBA player. That's why Cherifer is so popular among mothers who want their kids to grow taller than their genes could offer.


But Tanya Angus has a different story. She lived a normal teenage life. By the time she was 20, she was 5'11" and weighed 115 pounds. But then she noticed her clothes and shoes don't fit her anymore. She consulted several doctors about it but all of them said there's practically nothing wrong about it.

Now she's 30. And she's 480 pounds at 6'6". Doctors recognize that she has acromegaly, a disorder that makes you grow even after the puberty period. So you could be 50 and still growing.

According to Wikipedia: Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (hGH) after epiphyseal plate closure. A number of disorders may affect the pituitary to create this circumstance, although most commonly it involves a GH producing tumor derived from a distinct type of cells (somatotrophs) and called pituitary adenoma.

Andre the Giant had this disorder, too, but he was never treated. He died young at the age of 46 due to heart problems.

Tanya, though, is now being treated. But it may be too late. Her condition is not getting any better despite many surgeries. A large brain tumor wrapped around her pituitary gland keeps on coming back even if several surgeries were done to remove it.

Realizing her hopeless condition, Tanya wants acromegaly be known. She wants to reach out and tell others with the same condition to get treatment as early as possible.

She's a brave woman. And in some other way, she's also telling us to be thankful for our good health... and to just be contented with how tall (or short) we are.

Photo via weeklyworldnews.com

Labels: sad reality