Her name is Chandler Crews, and she was born with achondroplasia, which is the most common form of dwarfism. The condition is caused by a genetic mutation that affects how bone grows in the cartilage of growth plates, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
The condition can appear as a result of a spontaneous mutation during early development and can also be passed down from parents. Typically, it results in individuals reaching an adult height somewhere between 42 and 56 inches, making everyday tasks far more challenging.
She also had to attend regular hospital visits to manage the many complications linked to her condition, including bowed legs, recurrent ear infections, and other health concerns that often accompany achondroplasia, according to the Daily Mail.
Explaining her mindset at the time, she said: “I didn’t want to wait for the world to change to fit my needs.”
Her first limb lengthening surgery took place in August 2010. After that, she went on to complete two additional operations that further increased her height and mobility.
Alongside these, she returned to the Rubin Institute for follow-up treatments, which included corrective procedures for her bowed legs and adjustments aimed at improving her spine health.
By the end of her procedures, she had grown to an impressive 4’11-3/4 “, as per an interview with Limblength.org.
Looking back years later, Crews reflected on just how much of a difference those extra 13 inches have made in her daily life and independence.
“My treatment at RIAO didn’t just change me physically, it changed everything for me,” she added, noting that the transformation went far beyond physical height.
According to the Daily Mail, one of the most practical changes she’s enjoyed is being able to comfortably reach the top of her head to style her hair into a ponytail, thanks to arm lengthening surgeries carried out between 2011 and 2013.
“At 4’11’ I’m still really short, but I’m what I call (for myself) a ‘comfortable short’,” she pointed out, explaining how she feels more at ease with her current height.
Drawing from her personal experiences with achondroplasia, she went on to launch a nonprofit advocacy group known as The Chandler Project.
“Children have died from complications of achondroplasia. Adults have died from having achondroplasia. No one ever wants to talk about it, but it’s true. Living with achondroplasia is a difficult life, but it’s the only one I have,” she said, highlighting the challenges that come with the condition.
“I’m working hard to make it my best life and show others they too can control the way they live with this condition.”
