Featured Image Credit: chandlercrews.com
Anish Vij
In 2010, at the age of 17, Chandler C. Crews reached her adult height of 3′10″.
She was born with achondroplasia, a genetic condition that affects bone growth, and the most common form of dwarfism. It happens due to a mutation in the FGFR3 gene.
After having six surgeries in Baltimore to increase her height, the Marylander has dedicated much of her life to building awareness around limb lengthening and living with achondroplasia.
In 2010, Chandler underwent her first leg lengthening procedure using external fixators on both femurs and tibias.
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Limb lengthening surgery is when the bone is cut through as a device to slowly pulls the two pieces apart.
As the gap widens, new bone grows in between, and this increases height or corrects limb differences over time.
The process took around three months, resulting in a height gain of roughly six inches.
After the removal of the fixators in April 2011, she was walking unassisted by June.
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Then in 2012, Chandler gained four inches of additional arm length when external fixators were applied to both humeri.
A year later, she underwent a second leg lengthening, and by 2014, her height increased to 4' 11".
"Overall, I have had six major orthopedic surgeries. Three were limb lengthening. 2 leg lengthenings, and one arm lengthening. Post my second leg-lengthening," she revealed on her website.
Despite her advocacy for limb lengthening, sections of the dwarfism community believe it promotes the wrong message.
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In 2014, NBC reported that a petition was asking the community to denounce the procedure because people should be proud to live as they are.
At the Little People of America convention in San Diego, Rebecca Cokley wore a T-shirt that read: “Short by birth, staying that way by choice."
"I would say to you that dwarfism is beautiful. Feel pride in who you are. Disability is part of life’s infinite diversity," she said.
Whereas Chandler said at the time that she only publicised her journey to reveal that there are options out there if people are interested.
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"I was just tired of having my height define me," she said.
The advocator further explained on her website: "I chose to undergo limb lengthening because I knew I did not want to live all my adult height at 3’10”.
"In full transparency, I also wanted to be more able-bodied. It was not just about being taller but also more proportionate.
"Having longer arms, I can reach the top of my head (wash it easier, high ponytails, safely use hairstyling tools, etc.), sit a safer distance away from the steering wheel when driving, not have to alter sleeves, deal with feminine hygiene – changing tampons, wiping front-to-back, not needing to use a bidet.
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"When it came to height (lengthening legs), I didn’t want to rely on stepstools and other forms of assistance constantly.
"Yes, it was my 'norm,' but it never felt like independence. I didn’t know it then, but being within face-to-face range of my peers was an outcome I never considered.
"At 4’11,” I’m still really short, but I’m what I call (for myself) a 'comfortable short'."