SAEDNEWS: A young Chinese girl failed to grow due to a rare condition. Doctors believe the primary cause of her stunted growth was a tumor in her brain.
According to Saed News’ Social Service report, in Sichuan, China, there lives a girl who at first glance looks like a preschooler—but she is 19 years old.
Zheng Yushan stopped growing at the age of seven. Years have passed since then, yet her appearance remains that of a first-grader, unchanged over time. When Zheng was seven, a tumor developed in her pituitary gland, preventing her from growing like other children her age. Her condition was both critical and rare. She needed surgery immediately, but her family could not afford her treatment.
Instead of focusing on Zheng’s health, her parents quarreled daily and eventually decided to separate. After the divorce, Zheng’s mother left, and she stayed with her father.
Shortly after the separation, Zheng’s father, Mr. Youl, fell seriously ill. Unable to pay for his own medical care, he and Zheng resorted to begging on the streets. Each day, they traveled long distances across different cities, hoping that people would be moved by Zheng’s appearance and offer help.
Their life on the streets continued until 2013, when Zheng’s father passed away, leaving her alone. Zheng survived alone on the streets until one day, a couple with two daughters spotted her. They decided to adopt her.
According to 50-year-old Gulio, the couple initially hesitated. At that time, Zheng had no hair and was in extremely poor health. Soon, they realized that Zheng was a 19-year-old girl with the mental abilities of a six-year-old. The kind couple adopted her and began the necessary treatments.
A New Family, a New Life
Zheng’s adoptive parents say: “We consulted many doctors, and when one promised to help, we brought Zheng into our home. Now, she feels content living with us. We are doing everything we can to support her and teach her skills so that one day, if we are gone, she can manage on her own.”
Zheng has grown very attached to her new parents. Her greatest wish is to go to school, but most schools refuse her because of her age.
According to Professor Ashley Grassman from Oxford University, such conditions are rare in Western countries because pediatricians monitor children closely. Pituitary tumors in childhood are extremely rare, and in adulthood, only one in a thousand people develops such a tumor. Sometimes, a defective gene can cause the condition.
Professor Grassman explains that the disease is treatable, potentially using pituitary glands from deceased donors, though this is complex. Fortunately, synthetic hormones are now available and can be injected daily to aid recovery.
She adds that if growth hormones are not produced in the body, other hormones fail as well, preventing full development. Hair loss is a common side effect of the condition.
Can Zheng Be Treated?
Whether Zheng can be fully treated depends on her age and bone development. If her bones are still like those of an eight- or nine-year-old, treatment could be successful. If they have developed to the level of a 14-year-old, growth is unlikely.
In China, treatment for such patients is rarely accessible because few families can afford it. Many individuals with pituitary disorders do not receive proper care. Nevertheless, many doctors believe that attempting to treat Zheng is worthwhile.
