Unique diseases sometimes do such strange things to people and change their lives that it’s amazing. For example, one boy was born with a diagnosis that cannot be overcome by medicine. He will forever remain small, even as his mind grows older. How does he live and what awaits this person in an infant’s body
Endless Childhood
Many of us miss our childhood years, but for Dylan Myers it is a subject he can only discuss with sadness. He was born into a London family with what is known as “Peter Pan syndrome,” when a child is unable to grow and form into an adult.
Dylan was late – mom was 41 and dad was 44, although that’s the normal age for pregnancy these days. During an examination at 20 weeks, it was discovered that there were irregularities in the fetus’ cardiac development. The mother had a cesarean section at the time of delivery, and the boy was healthy in appearance. But later a host of problems were discovered.
Dylan slept little and didn’t eat well, he got an ear infection, then had a sore throat and bouts of respiratory failure. One leg was different in length from the other. Doctors found up to 20 diagnoses for him and the prognosis was sad – he was given no more than 5 months to live. But those expectations didn’t come true.
Dylan in a Baby’s Body
It’s been more than 10 years, the boy is already 12, but he looks like an infant at the age of no more than 1 year. His weight is only 12 kg, and he does not exceed 90 cm in height. They buy him clothes as for a baby. In fact, Dylan is growing, but adds only a couple of millimeters per year.
Of course, the parents suffered a lot, watching the child’s ailments and listening to the doctors’ predictions. It was a miraculous healing of their son, but the outcome did not make them happy. After all, raising a boy in such a body is very difficult. How would he live and how would he adapt in society?
Now Dylan is carried in a stroller, put in a baby car seat in the car. He sleeps in a cradle in his room and bathes in a baby’s bathtub. It would seem that technically it is not difficult, if we do not recollect the fact that his “childhood” has lasted for 12 years. Worse is the other thing – constant apnea seizures, respiratory problems, so mom and dad give him CPR on a regular basis.
Difficult moments
His first seizure was when he was 4 months old, then Dylan went all blue, no breath. There was no access to oxygen for 30 seconds. Mom was very frightened, but now she learned all the techniques to prevent apnea and save her son a long time ago.
Another difficulty in Dylan’s life is a weak ability to communicate; he can only produce baby sounds. He cannot even say the word “mom,” only primitive sounds come out of his speech apparatus. Of course, his parents have long found a common language with him and understand every gesture, request and need.
In terms of movement, the boy can only crawl, walk a couple of steps, but no more than that.In his short life, Dylan has already had fifty surgical interventions. He has to be constantly given medication to relieve pain and establish breathing. In fact, “Peter Pan syndrome” – the name is unofficial, because the disease is very rare and almost never occurs. They explain these developmental defects by genetic malfunctions.
One can only guess how difficult it is for Dylan’s parents. But they have never thought about abandoning their child and believe that he can live a long life, despite the sad predictions of doctors.