When Emily Dover was born, she looked and acted just like any happy newborn.
But according to her mom Tam, that bliss lasted just a few days. By her second week of life, the little girl was crying a lot and growing much faster than normal. By the time she was 4 months old, she was as big as a 1-year-old child.
Doctors could not figure out why Emily was growing so quickly.
At age 2, Tam noticed that her daughter had begun growing breasts and had developed body odor. A rash that she had since birth was diagnosed as cystic acne. To anyone, it would seem that the little girl was going through puberty.
Tests also revealed that the child's hormone levels were close to those of a pregnant woman.
Not long thereafter, she started menstruating. Her body was growing and aging at such a rapid rate that confused doctors diagnosed her with a host of ailments, including Addison's disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, central precocious puberty, autism spectrum disorder, sensory processing disorder, and anxiety disorder.
Emily is now 5 years old, and her body is going through menopause.
At birth, Emily Dover seemed like a healthy and happy baby.
But by her second week of life, her parents started noticing that she wasn't as healthy as they believed. They were confused as to why she was growing exceptionally fast.
By the time she was 4 months old, she was the size of a 1-year-old.
Through the years, baffled doctors struggled to diagnose her. She was always much larger than what they thought she should have been, and she was showing signs that she was going through puberty. Her mother noticed that the little girl was growing breasts and pubic hair, menstruating and developing body odor much earlier than normal.
It seemed like her body was aging at a much faster rate.
Now 5, she's growing so fast that she's in constant pain.
Emily understands that her body is different than that of girls her age, but doesn't know why.
Doctors finally diagnosed her with Addison's disease, among other conditions contributing to her health issues.
Now that she has been diagnosed, Emily will be undergoing hormone-replacement therapy.
This means that she will receive three monthly injections. It will cost her family $1,455 per shot. Her condition has also thrown her into menopause at the tender age of 5.
You can help Emily and her family by donating to their GoFundMe page.
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