Girl, 9, who wears size 16 clothes could reach 7ft unless doctors discover why she’s growing so fast – and stop it
A NINE-year-old girl who wears size 16 clothes could reach 7ft unless doctors discover why she is growing so fast, and stop her rapid growth.
Carmel Tomlinson is growing ten times faster than other kids her age.
But, doctors are stumped as to why.
Carmel is the same size as the average 16-year-old, and already measures 5ft 5ins and weighs 14 stone.
Medics have been unable to diagnose the problem, but have warned her parents if she carries on as she is, she will likely be 7ft tall.
Her mum Leanne Tomlinson, 44, from Hull, said: "She has been diagnosed with severe learning difficulties and severe autism, but doctors have no idea what it is which is making her grow so fast.
"She needs 24/7 care, she can't talk, she is incontinent so she wears nappies, and only needs about three hours sleep a night. "She has no sense of danger, but despite all her problems she is the most, happy, amazing girl and she smiles all the time."
Carmel's parents Leanne and Martin, who are both full-time carers, first noticed something was not quite right when she was not hitting her milestones as a baby.
At around ten months old she was still unable to sit up or roll over.
She was referred to a paediatrician when she was about 18 months old, and Carmelwas diagnosed with severe learning difficulties.
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By the age of four she was already the size of a nine-year-old.
Carmel is now taller than her mum and is already wearing women's size 16 clothes with an adult size six shoe.
Doctors at Hull Royal Infirmary have now told Mr and Mrs Tomlinson they want to stop her growth by bringing on puberty early.
Mrs Tomlinson said: "They have done various test and they now want to give her a hormone pill, which will bring on puberty early.
"Girls stop growing when they reach puberty, so as awful as it sounds, if she goes through puberty now, it will stop her growth.
"We do wish we could find out exactly what it is that is making her grow so fast, but we are happy that there is something they can do for now and we will do whatever is best for Carmel.
"She is growing so rapidly and the problem is that she is heavy and strong and so it's best for her if she stops growing now."
Carmel is one of five children, with one sister and three brothers - one of whom also has severe autism, but no growth problems.
And despite Mrs Tomlinson being busy with her five children, she has set up a support group for parents with children who have special needs.
