If someone were to ask me what group of people were my all-time favorites, I would have to say, ‘Little People’ are and it is for this one reason is that they are a self-reliant group of people. In this big, big world of ours, nothing stands in their way of living life large and to its fullest. Simply put as a group and individually, they are truly amazing people.
When I originally wrote an article on one family titled, The Roloff Family: The Giants of Social Activism, I distinctly remember one reader’s response to me asking why I chose to write of them instead of the social problems that seem to plague this great big world of ours. I remember distinctly writing back to that person that as a writer, “I can.” Second it was refreshing to say the least to write a column dedicated to the Roloff family and how the live life in the most ordinary way.
By the way that one piece on my blog tends to be one of the top-read pieces on it and I do think the reason for this is that people are looking for positive and exemplary people. To their credit, the Roloff family fits the bill.
Before TLC (The Learning Channel) aired, “Little People, Big World” our imagery of dwarfs or as they like to be called ‘Little People’ were of midget circus entertainers and side-show exhibits. Dare I say we looked upon them as freaks of nature where in reality, we are the freaks if we treat them any different? I would say so.
On Sunday night, I sat riveted watching three shows on primordial dwarfism on TLC. According to Wikipedia, the scientific definition of this syndrome is, “a rare form of dwarfism that results in a smaller body size in all stages of life beginning from before birth. More specifically, primordial dwarfism is a diagnostic category including specific types of profoundly proportionate dwarfism, in which individuals are extremely small for their age, even as a fetus.” In a little girl named Kenadie who you will meet at the end of this piece, her mother barely showed even in the late term of her pregnancy.
It is also a rare condition. There are only one hundred diagnosed cases within north America. Scientists do not yet fully understand what causes this condition, but what they do know is that both parents must carry the gene in order to give birth to a primordial dwarf baby. There are a lot of unknowns in how to raise a child born with this condition since there is little science to help the medical community fully understand it.
As I sat watching some who have grown into their teen years, one of these shows focused on a woman named Sharon who is age 43. Their life expectancy generally is where most do not live past the age of 30. Yet they make most of those years that some of us tend to throw away. What I found was that they did not allow for this condition to define who they are. Living as a primordial dwarf can be arduous as people do stare at them in public also most facilities that you and I take for granted are not built to their size such as ATMs, toilets and pay phones. But, they make due and succeed.
When we think of the healthcare issue that still needs addressing in this country, these ‘Little People’ must continually be monitored which is a fright unto itself. They must continue to have MRIs in order to see if there are any aneurysms forming which is their primary killer. In one such case, a woman who is 24 lost her younger brother who was also a primordial dwarf. He died as a result of a brain aneurysm. This is something they live with on a daily basis.
Another teenage girl had to undergo spine surgery since this condition can cause a curvature of their spines and had to have steel rods placed on either side of it. They must have this done since any curvature of their spines can create stress on their internal organs such as the lungs and heart.
After her spinal surgery she had to go back for a follow-up visit which terrified her. It seems she was afraid of the pain from that surgery. As I was watching this follow-up, I cannot imagine how she dealt with it. My heart leapt out when she cried to the doctor, “Do not hurt me” as he checked her scabs. As brave as she was in going through that check-up, the thought that entered my mind is, “There but for the grace of God, go I” As fast as that thought came into my head, it left and here is the reason why: I do think that God sends these wonderful people into our lives as a true example on how to live life to its fullest.
In my eight years of writing, I have received emails where people do tend to complain. Not all the time, but at times. After watching these three shows, what I saw were courageous people living ordinary lives under difficult circumstances and not bemoaning their circumstances.
I will give you one example of their limited circumstances besides the facilities and it comes to clothing. When some of us go clothes shopping, often primordial dwarfs have to purchase clothing in either the toddler section or young-girl’s or men’s section. Often the latest fashion trends are not represented in those lines of clothing. But, they do make the most of what is offered to them.
Years ago, upon the birth of primordial dwarfs, doctors would suggest to parents that they institutionalize these babies as was the case of little Kenadie. This baby was given little chance to live and was baptized shortly after birth. It is at this time, I invite all of you to watch this precious little girl and the loving parents who would not see of abdicating their responsibility to raise her. In watching her story unfold, all I could do was smile at her fortitude for life.
In closing to my readers, this is my Christmas gift to you so that you can see for yourself these amazing people and get to know them. Our world is far richer with ‘Little People’ walking amongst us and beside us.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
