The then 24-year-old mom, Laura, said that doctors told her to consider an abortion after irregularities in scans caused professionals to worry the youngster had inherited a deadly combination of genes.
But Laura, who suffered complications throughout the pregnancy, ignored advice and decided to carry on with the pregnancy. She was then told that both her and the baby would need special care after birth – if he survived.
The mother prepared herself for the prospect of not seeing her newborn baby for four days after having a c-section. But she was amazed when she woke from the operation to find her fiance sat at her bedside – with the newborn by his side.
Laura, who has appeared in a number of films and theatre shows, said: “I was having scans once a week because they were a little worried there could be complications.
“It wasn’t until 24/25 weeks that things started changing. “They noticed that his measurements weren’t quite what they should be. “They thought that he had inherited two rare genes that could have been dangerous. “I was told to consider abortion and told that if he had these genes he would probably die within half an hour of birth. “I didn’t even think about abortion at any point – I don’t believe in abortion. I could feel him moving around inside me – he was a little wriggler. In my head everything was fine.
“When I went down to theatre to have him I was so worried – they had been very cautious with us and said that there was a high chance we would need special care after he was born and that I might not see him for four days. “When I woke up Nathan was stood next to me with little Nathan in a cot. I couldn’t believe it – I just cried.” Laura, who is the only dwarf in her family, suffers from achondroplasia – meaning she has shortened limbs as well as a curvature of the spine – causing serious pain. Nathan has a different form of dwarfism – pseudoachondroplasia, which means his bone growth is stinted, causing weak hips. Experts fear that baby Nathan may inherit back and hip problems due to having both strands of dwarfism, but it is not yet known if he will suffer from either.
His mother said that she hopes Nathan will be able to live a normal life, much like herself, despite his condition. She added that whilst she was sure Nathan was the only person in the UK to become a double dwarf, the condition had been heard of elsewhere in the world. She said: “Nathan has inherited both forms of dwarfism and is therefore a double dwarf. Laura and Nathan met whilst performing in pantomime on the Channel 4 documentary – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The pair got engaged and Laura fell pregnant, though they had not been trying for a baby. Despite the new arrival delaying marriage plans, the couple hope to tie the knot later this year or early next year. Though they are not quite sure what is in store with baby Nathan they say they will remain patient in the hope he will lead a life as enjoyable as theirs.
