Dwarfism


Dwarfism is condition of growth retardation resulting in abnormally short adult stature and caused by a variety of hereditary and metabolic disorders. The word came around in 1865. Traditionally, the term “dwarf” was used to describe individuals with disproportions of body and limb, while “midget” referred to those of reduced stature but normal proportions; today neither word is used, and “little people” has become the preferred term for persons with extreme growth retardation. They also say that at first kids that were born with the defect would not live pass a month or two but with the medicines and technology we have today more and more people with that disease are able to survive.

I first heard the word when I was about 10 or 11 years old. I was watching this sh0w on Discovery Health Channel about this girl named Katherine who was my age but the size of my 3 year old cousin. When I first saw the show they tell you what he word means and everything and I thought it was sad. But then I saw that the girl loved they way she was and then dwarfism wasn't all that bad. And plus I think it would be cool to be her size.