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Teenager Has 'One-In-Seven Billion' Condition That Means He's The Size Of A Toddler

Teenager Has 'One-In-Seven Billion' Condition That Means He's The Size Of A Toddler

Angus, 13, appeared on the ​This Morning​ sofa with his mother Tandy.

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A teenager stuck in the body of a toddler has charmed the nation after an appearance on ITV's This Morning. Angus Palmes has a chromosome abnormality that limits his abilities to speak and walk, as well as giving him severe gastric problems.

Angus, 13, appeared on the This Morning sofa with his mother Tandy, who explained just how rare his condition is. "There's over a million children in the UK who've all got disabilities and Angus is actually one of a kind, he's completely unique in every way as you can see," she told Rylan Clark and Sarah Greene, who are filling in while Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby are on holiday.

"There's a lot of children with what they call personal syndromes who fight a lot of battles because people don't recognise them so they struggle sometimes to get service and things like that," Tandy continued.

Credit: ITV/This Morning

Sarah Green asked her how she found out that Angus had his 'personal syndrome', with Tandy answering: "We had no idea there was anything wrong although they had their suspicions.

"They took us in an ambulance to one of the Manchester hospitals and did some genetic tests and three weeks after that they told me they found this chromosome abnormality by accident."

Angus was a normally-sized baby and weighed 6lb 7oz at birth, but his condition really became noticeable when he stopped growing at age three. Today, despite being 13 years old, he is just over three feet tall and just over two stones in weight.

His personality shone through his TV appearance though, smiling away and laughing on the show.

Credit: ITV/This Morning

He held is hand in a pointed position, which mum Tandy explained is his way of showing his happiness, as Angus is otherwise unable to communicate. He has harmed himself on several occasions in his frustration at not being able to communicate with other people.

Angus' condition baffles doctors, and it is thought that he is the only person on the planet with it. It is estimated that his condition is a one-in-seven billion chance and is so rare that it doesn't have a name, being only known 'chromosome translocation of 15/22 with partial trisomy of 22q12.3'.

He has already had to have more than 40 operations and has fought off a meningitis infection.

Angus has to take 250 doses of medication every week to stay healthy and has Botox injected into his saliva glands to halt dribbling.

"He's never going to lead an independent life, he'll always be dependent on me, but we'll sort of work it out and get along," said his mother.

Featured Image Credit: This Morning/ITV

Topics: This Morning