A 23-year-old man has spent his life trapped inside the boy of an 11-pound baby unable to walk or talk.
Manpreet Singh was born in 1995 but at the age of just one, and weighing only 11lbs, he stopped growing. His neighbours refer as the ‘pint-sized man’ and he needs 24-hour care much like a toddler. ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs told his father Jagtar Singh, 50, that he would start growing again. But that never happened and doctors have been left baffled as to the reason why as his brother Mangaldeep and sister Jaspreet have both physically and mentally developed. Doctors believe the growth defect is due to a hormone deficiency but are unable to identify exactly what without an expensive medical investigation.
MK Bhadu, a medical officer at a state run facility at Hisar, said: “The patient’s growth stopped due to some hormonal imbalance. A child begins to develop mentally and physically from the age of three. If his ʙᴏᴅʏ is not developing, the parents should take him to a better medical facility and get him treadet.” Scientists, however, believe Manpreet could have laron syndrome, a rare genetic condition that is believed to have afeected just 300 people across the globe. He has swollen palmis, feet and a big face with saggy skin. He primarily communicates through gestures and can laugh, scream and cry. His uncle Karanvir Singh said: ” Manpreet giggles like a toddler and seldom gets sad. It’s only when the dogs or any other animal makes a sound, he gets terrified and cries. He is a delightful child and gestures the guests with his hands to sit, and tries to befriend them.”
Manpreet has been cared for by his relatives throughout most of his life, who shower him with love and affection, and refuses to stay with his parents who live 112km away. Lakhwinder added: ” We have sent him back to his parents several times, but he won’t stay with them. Manpreet would stop eating and keep crying all the time there. But when he is sent back to us again, he would turn ɪɴᴛᴏ the same bubbly and joyful kid. We love this little bundle of joy so much that the idea of letting him go makes my heart sink.”
Worried about his future, the family has been consulting a number of doctors who has said a proper investigation of his condition is needed before they are able to give a proper diagnosis. The cost of the investigation and preliminary treatment would be around 500,000 rupees – just under £5,400. A crowd-funding campaign has been started on Ketto, India’s version of GoFundMe, to raise funds for his treatment.
