October, Dwarfism Awareness Month, as recognized in Delaware, New York, Missouri, Indiana, New York and Oklahoma is a time to focus on informing and educating communities about people living with dwarfism. People with dwarfism live fulfilling personal lives and pursue successful careers as doctors, lawyers, engineers, entertainers and more.
Lesser known is the fact that dwarfism is often accompanied by medical and orthopedic challenges. People with dwarfism typically undergo 3-15 surgical procedures through their life. Children with achondroplasia, a major form of dwarfism, may need multiple surgeries to relieve sleep apnea and spinal cord compression in the upper and lower spine, as well as procedures to reduce bowing at the knees. Teens and young adults sometimes need surgery to correct an excessive curvature of the lower spine known as lordosis.
Growing Stronger is the first-of-its-
Because dwarfism is a relatively rare condition there is very little NIH (National Institute of Health) funding available to researchers. However, with over 20,000 families affected by dwarfism in the USA, Growing Stronger is aiming to raise $10M/year with private, non-profit funds to support dwarfism. With expanded funds doctors can explore unanswered questions and devise new techniques that will improve medical care for children and adults with dwarfism.
“Growing Stronger's mission to raise funds and support researchers will help improve the quality of medical care available to little people,” said Dr. William Mackenzie, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children and Chairman of LPA’s Medical Advisory Board.
To achieve fund raising goals Growing Stronger has started an ambassador program that encourages families to raise $500 to $1000/year from their local communities. With only 1500 such families Growing Stronger can achieve its goal of $10M per year. For more information on how to support dwarfism and become an ambassador please visit: http://www.growingstronger.org/
About Growing Stronger
Growing Stronger founded in early 2011 is an organization that raises non-profit funds to support research focused on improving the quality of medical care of little people. Growing Stronger raises funds through families touched by dwarfism who become ambassadors. Growing Stronger is based in Saratoga, Calif. For more information on how to become an ambassador and the latest on related medical research please visit www.growingstronger.org
