Caitlin Gibson, writing in the Washington Post Magazine, documents Caitlin Schroeder’s decision to undergo a painful limb lengthening procedure and months of physical therapy. Thirteen-year-old Caitlin (shown left) was born with a form of dwarfism.

Caitlin’s mother was hesitant but allowed her daughter to learn about the options. The teenager chose to proceed because she said she felt limited by the social impact of her condition.

The procedure added 5-3/4 inches to Caitlin’s height. She is now 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches tall — a difference that allows her to reach the sink and ride a bike.

A height increase of up to 16 inches is, [her surgeon] says, “a tremendously life-altering functional improvement.” But not everyone views the additional height with the same sense of appreciation. As the number of dwarf patients seeking limb-lengthening has grown, so has the controversy surrounding the physical, emotional and social impact of the procedure. Many members of the dwarf community believe that limb-lengthening sends the wrong message: that in order to fit in, be professionally successful or simply lead a “normal” life, it is necessary to conform to the larger population’s standards of height.

The surgery is most successful when patients are younger and their bones heal more readily, but many question whether youngsters have the judgment to make the decision for themselves.

See related post here.

(Washington Post photo)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 at 4:17 pm and is filed under dwarfism/little people. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.