A young teenaged boy, aged 13, lives with significant disabilities that have affected his ability to get around and his height.
Tommy's my name, and I am 13 years old. I was born a little person; because of this, I have a normal-sized trunk, but shorter than normal limbs, and I will never be very tall, even when I get to be an adult.
I am 13, as I just said, but I look more like six or even younger. I am very little for my age, and wherever I go, I am subjected to stares or comments from other people. It doesn't help that I use a scooter to get around, or for shorter trips, Lofstrand crutches. I did have two canes, but my joints have gotten worse, and it is harder for me to get around, so doc put me on the crutches, and I seem to be doing better with the crutches. I have a condition known as achondroplasia, which is the most common type of dwarfism (there are over 100 different types of dwarfism), and it was something I was born with. In addition to my short stature, I also have arthritis (which is why I use the braces on my legs and the two crutches), and I have to take medication to help control the pain and inflammation in my joints. I have to have p.t. (that's physical therapy) twice a week to help keep my joints strong and supple.
I am not very athletic (it is hard for me to try to play sports because of my weakened joints and proneness to injury), but I do like to play video games, read, watch tv, and draw or write poetry and stories. I also love to go to the mall with my friends if I am not having TOO much in the way of pain. But at the mall, I have to use my scooter because it is so much of an effort for me to try to keep up with my buddies on my crutches.
At the age of 13, I am only 3 1/2' tall, and I have to wear children's clothes because regular teen clothes would swim on me. I often have to have my clothes custom-made or altered, so they will fit me. I am embarrassed about my height because people make fun, and they also stare or snicker. I am not very uncomfortable around people unless I know them well enough.
I live in a nice house here in Nashville, Tennessee, with my mom, Trish, dad, Obie, and my three younger brothers, Tahj (11), Tiger (8), and Tobias (5). Of the kids, Tiger and Toby are normal, but Taj is a little person like me. He doesn't have as many physical problems as I do; he doesn't need braces on his legs or two crutches in order to walk. He gets around a lot easier than I do. We also have a dog, a golden-haired mutt named "Boobie" (DON'T ask me how he got that name; my dad had him before I came to the family! I am adopted; I was adopted when I was six.). (I think her name is really "Barbie", but when I was little, I couldn't say "Barbie", so this was how "Barbie" became "Boobie"; I don't know, but that's the story dad tells me!).
I am a fan of "SpongeBob SquarePants"; I LOVE that show! And you'll see that I like him once you come to my room because I have "SpongeBob SquarePants" bedcovers, sheets, pillowcases, and such on my bed, plus I have pictures of him on my walls. I have always liked that show when it first came onto the air, and I think it is absolutely HILARIOUS!
I also like to surf the 'Net; I have a fancy-schmancy computer in my room, and whenever my friends come over, we'll play games or surf the 'Net and find the neatest stuff. Now, our computer is blocked, meaning we can't get any nasty or "questionable" stuff on it, which is fine with me; I think some of the stuff they have on the 'Net is absolutely DISGUSTING! It's sick what is on the 'Net, in terms of pornography and stuff!
It is because of the 'Net that I have learned much about dwarfism and what it entails. I have learned much about my own condition, and I even did a report on it last year in seventh grade (got an A+ on it, too! I ACED that sucker!). It is fascinating, and I never knew there were so many different forms of dwarfism until I did some research on the old computer!
I don't have many friends at school, but at least I DO have SOME friends. It's not like I am TOTALLY friendless, ya' know?? But I AM shy in nature, and it takes me a while to warm up to people; and I am sure it does the same for people who meet ME. I am NOT your average-looking teen, and when people first see me, they are always caught off guard. That is a normal reaction, but even with my being so short and disabled, I am a person, too, just like ALL people, and I am NOT someone to be feared or stared at! I am a person too, and I deserve the same respect and treatment as any other kid my age!
Oh! Before I go, did I tell you what I want to be when I get older? I would either like to be a lawyer or an author. I am good with people, and I also am good at writing; I have won several awards for my writing abilities, and people say I would be one heck of a writer!
