She’s 16 but Looks Like 2

I just got done reading a story that spun interest to me and my husband but also many questions. Have ya’ll heard of

Brooke Greenberg? ABC just did a show on this 16-year-old child that actually isn’t aging (by the way this was their wording) and looks as if she is only 2-years-old. Currently doctors are stumped and have no clue what is causing this.

Brooke may hold the answer to the fountain of youth some say, others aren’t so sure. Some wonder if she’ll contineu to age and just look like a baby, if she’ll out live her family members, etc. Either way, the family of Brooke are just curious as to what has caused her to stop aging/growing but state they love her and wouldn’t change anything about her. At a young age they noticed she stopped growing and even today she looks as if she were a toddler but is actually 16 years old. The family tries giving her a normal life and even have her enrolled in the public school system. However they have no clue what she is actually comprehending.

Brooke does not walk or talk, she does use her arms to scoot as you can see in the video below (this was from 2005). The doctors have done several tests on her to try to figure out what is wrong, but still no answers.

Her paediatrician, Dr Lawrence Pakula says:

She still has baby teeth and her bone age is estimated to be that of a 10-year-old, but she’s never been diagnosed with a known genetic syndrome or chromosomal abnormality.

Her mother states she acts just like a teen:

“She loves to shop…just like a woman.” When they do hit the stores – with Brooke in a stroller – other mothers will stop and ask how old Brooke is. Stating the fact that she is sixteen would be startling and would take a whole lot of explanation so her mum says, “my system has been to turn year into months. So, if someone asked today, I might say, she’s 16 months old.”

Before you begin thinking this is probably just something genetic, she has two older sisters and a younger one. Her other three sisters are all aging and growing perfectly normal, she’s the only one that has stayed small. She’s been through numerous surgeries and at least 4 close calls, but each time her parents state that she’s pulled through even stronger than the last. Hopefully they can figure out what is wrong with Brooke, but in the meantime she definitely has a family that loves her dispite any hardships they’ve all been through. I’m sure she’s been through a lot during her childhood with all those hospital trips and testing. Any thoughts?

(click on the links to see pictures of Brooke Greenberg)