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Woman Who Had Controversial Surgery To Grow 13 Inches As A Teen Shows Her Life Now

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Back in 2010, at just 16 years old, she went through an operation that completely transformed her future.
A woman from Maryland who chose to undergo limb lengthening surgery as a teenager has now shared an update on her life, showing how she looks 15 years after first going through the dramatic procedure.Her name is Chandler Crews, and she was born with achondroplasia, which is the most common form of dwarfism. The condition is caused by a genetic mutation that affects how bone grows in the cartilage of growth plates, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.The condition can appear as a result of a spontaneous mutation during early development and can also be passed down from parents. Typically, it results in individuals reaching an adult height somewhere between 42 and 56 inches, making everyday tasks far more challenging.

The now 31-year-old, who had only reached 3’10 ” when she was just 16, said she was ‘physically struggling’ to complete daily tasks like washing her hair, driving a car, and using public restrooms before undergoing controversial limb lengthening surgery.”She also had to attend regular hospital visits to manage the many complications linked to her condition, including bowed legs, recurrent ear infections, and other health concerns that often accompany achondroplasia, according to the Daily Mail.

Chandler Crews is a 31-year-old Maryland woman who underwent limb lengthening surgery for the first time in 2010charmcitychandler/Instagram
After thinking carefully about her options, Crews decided that lengthening her legs and arms would give her the opportunity to live the kind of life she dreamed about. With that in mind, she underwent her first procedure at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics, a center known for its expertise in these types of surgeries.Explaining her mindset at the time, she said: “I didn’t want to wait for the world to change to fit my needs.”

The American’s operations reportedly cost around $2 millioncharmcitychandler/Instagram
“I wanted to take charge and change for myself and no one else.”Her first limb lengthening surgery took place in August 2010. After that, she went on to complete two additional operations that further increased her height and mobility.Alongside these, she returned to the Rubin Institute for follow-up treatments, which included corrective procedures for her bowed legs and adjustments aimed at improving her spine health.

Altogether, Crews’ surgeries added up to nearly $2 million in costs. Fortunately, because her treatments were considered medically necessary, most of the expenses were covered by insurance.By the end of her procedures, she had grown to an impressive 4’11-3/4 “, as per an interview with Limblength.org.Looking back years later, Crews reflected on just how much of a difference those extra 13 inches have made in her daily life and independence.

Crews now runs her own advocacy company to help and give hope to otherscharmcitychandler/Instagram
“Being able to just walk up to someone and communicate with my face in the same range as their face has been the biggest game changer for me,” Crews admitted when reflecting on her journey.“My treatment at RIAO didn’t just change me physically, it changed everything for me,” she added, noting that the transformation went far beyond physical height.According to the Daily Mail, one of the most practical changes she’s enjoyed is being able to comfortably reach the top of her head to style her hair into a ponytail, thanks to arm lengthening surgeries carried out between 2011 and 2013.

 

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A post shared by chandler crews (@chancrews)

 

Other changes have been just as meaningful in everyday life. She explained that she can now safely sit further back from the steering wheel while driving and can manage personal hygiene independently without needing a bidet.“At 4’11’ I’m still really short, but I’m what I call (for myself) a ‘comfortable short’,” she pointed out, explaining how she feels more at ease with her current height.Drawing from her personal experiences with achondroplasia, she went on to launch a nonprofit advocacy group known as The Chandler Project.

The Chandler Project was created to support and inspire others with achondroplasia. The group offers resources, spreads awareness, and advocates for ongoing research into new treatment options, including both surgical approaches and emerging pharmaceutical developments, according to The Irish Star.“Children have died from complications of achondroplasia. Adults have died from having achondroplasia. No one ever wants to talk about it, but it’s true. Living with achondroplasia is a difficult life, but it’s the only one I have,” she said, highlighting the challenges that come with the condition.“I’m working hard to make it my best life and show others they too can control the way they live with this condition.”

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