Those of us women over 6' tall in the U.S. (I'm 6'4") only make up 1% of the population. That's about 3.2 million of us out there. It's not a huge number, but here's the thing about that number:

• 99% of us are between the ages of 20 and 50
• We are internet savvy because we had to be (to find clothes, communities, etc.)
• A decent chunk of us tend toward the liberal because, again, we had to (traditional roles don't work with us, we faced a lot of bullying growing up, etc.)
• We are constantly exploring the world around us for innovations (because we're looking for the world to offer things that work for us)

Essentially, we are the perfect demographic for Jezebel. And many of us are readers. In many of the tall communities I'm in, we share Jezebel articles frequently. We are still, above all, women who want to connect with others and the world around us.

Well, Jezebel, you just lost us. The quick spotlight Clover Hope wrote about the TLC series My Giant Life was bad.

Read the full article / blog posting

I am SO sorry for the lack of updates in the last few months. I want so badly to update with good news, maybe I was holding out for that. Recently Fox 8 news came and did a story on my fight with Marfan Syndrome. I found out it will air tonight on their 6pm broadcast.

Visit the Fox 8 Cleveland page 

Since I last updated I've struggled tremendously with food, getting bills paid, and getting to appointments. I was finally able to get in to see Dr. Daniels, my Marfan cardiologist, I've been issued a permanent handicapped placard, and I've been diagnosed with severe PTSD & an anxiety disorder.
Each day I just pray for a miracle! Thank you so much for all the support, thoughts, and prayers. I can't tell you how grateful I am! 

Ashley

You can still contribute to Ashley's GoFundMe appeal or spread the word.

Read Ashley's full story

Visit Ashley's support page on Facebook

Go directly to Ashley's GoFundMe page

R.I.P. Ashley Britt (August 25th, 1988 - November 1st, 2015)

With sadness I have to report that my good friend Ashley passed away last night. She went to bed with her boyfriend and fell asleep. Sadly she never woke up again.

I first started talking to Ashley when she was still a teenager, I believe. Even though I don't recall how exactly / where we met - it was online, of course - I always enjoyed talking to Ashley.

She may have been only 19 at the time, but due to her history (Ashley suffered from Marfan Sydrome) and health issue she was already a real grown-up and wise beyond her years. That's she because Tall Woman of the Month for September of 2007.

I finally met Ashley in person in New Bern, NC in April of 2011. She suffered from a pretty bad pneumonia back then (probably another result of Marfan) and I thought she would die on me when she started coughing - and couldn't stop. I went back to the supermarket we just left and got her a bottle of water. When I came back the driver of a vehicle parked next to us was asking if she needed any help. Ashley never had it easy.

When I learned earlier that Ashley had died last night, I couldn't believe it. Even though I knew that something might happen at any time I still didn't consider the likelyhood that she might pass away before me. It's totally unfair.

But that's the problem with Marfan Syndrome. Sufferers don't usually get to grow old. On the contrary. They tend to die much too young.

For the time being I have run out of words. I may extend this in the coming days. I would just ask you to pray for Ashley and her loved ones. Especially her boyfriend Zach.

In the future I will focus on the health issues connected to Marfan Syndrome more. Rest in peace, my dear friend. You will be missed!

Ashley's Story (retold)

In 1992 I was 4 years old. It was during '92 that my father died from an aortic dissection. He was diagnosed, posthumously with Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that can wreak havoc on every part of the affected person's body. He was a man who stood 7ft tall, played basketball for Iowa State University, and lived his entire life with a diagnosis he never received. Medical knowledge of Marfan Syndrome was just starting to form in the 90's.

Three years later, at the age of 7, I was diagnosed with the same disorder. At the age of 11, when I stood 6ft tall, I was told I had to stop all strenuous physical activity immediately, or risk a sudden, unexpected death (due to aortic dissection). I stopped playing sports and started receiving annual echocardiagrams, and began seeing specialists at The Ohio State University's medical center.

By the age of 18 my height finally began to slow, and I stood at a towering 6'7" tall. Let's just say THAT alone has been an adventure (LOL!). Don't be surprised if you see me walking around in an Ohio winter with capris on. At one time they were designed to be long pants but with 42" legs there's only so much a girl can do!

I married my first love, Robert, at the age of 18. He was in the Marine Corps and had just returned from his second deployment. We lived together in California until he was restationed in North Carolina. As soon as we got to North Carolina I found a new team of specialists at Duke Medical Center. They were fantastic. While many would complain about the military healthcare we received, I couldn't say a negative word. I was able to get the care & medications I needed to thrive!

Things were going well. I had several medical issues that were attributed to Marfan Syndrome (scoliosis, sciatica, became legally blind without glasses, etc) but they were nothing I couldn't manage with the help of the great team at Duke.

However, my life was about to be rocked. In July of 2011 my best friend, a beautiful 19 year old gospel singer named Caitlyn Culpepper was murdered outside our home while I was asleep inside. She was a victim of domestic violence. My husband, at this point a Sgt in the Marine Corps with 8 years in the service and 26 months spent deployed, had been diagnosed with PTSD while serving his final tour in Iraq.

In September of 2011 Robert committed suicide in our home in North Carolina. I became a widow in my early 20's.

I came home to Ohio to try and rebuild a life for myself. By this point my physical health problems had started to affect my daily life. It was almost as if the grief and anxiety wrecked my body. I can honestly say I haven't been the same since.

In the last three years my health has declined dramatically. When I lost my husband I no longer had my health insurance through the military. I could no longer afford doctor's visits, medications, and preventative care for basic health, let alone to manage my Marfan Syndrome.

One of the most painful and frustrating aspects of my condition is the effect it has on my bones. They're weak. Did you know that connective tissue has a huge impact in the formation of your bones?

In the last two and a half years I've had three stress fractures (two in my left leg, one in my right) and two tumors (which were determined to be benign but I was advised to have them monitored every 3-6 months to make sure they haven't grown or become aggressive).

I'm a 26 year old young woman who loves to laugh, joke, and have fun. But I have no quality of life left. I'm no longer able to walk through the grocery store because of lower back issues (a condition called Dural Ectasia) that cause intense pain, numbness, and tingling when I stand or walk for more than five to ten minutes. My health has deteriorated to the point where it's physically exhausting to get out of bed most mornings. My mental health is honestly about the same.

Due to my physical health problems I'm unable to work. I had originally begun Cosmetology School to become a nail artist. I thought if I could just make it through my year of schooling I'd be able to have a career that allowed me to sit. I made it 7 months before the pain was too overwhelming to continue. I'm currently a full time student, majoring in Human Services. I want to help people who are in situations like myself. I want to be the person that answers the phone at your local agency (Job & Family Services, for example) who says, "It's going to be okay. And I'm going to do everything I can to help you". But I've come to realize, at the age of 26, that I may never have the chance to work. I may have to file for disability before the age of 30.

In the meantime, bills are mounting. Medical bills, utility bills, etc. I have to visit local food pantries often in order to eat. I DO recieve a small benefit each month from the VA, but it wasn't designed to be able to live on. I was, however, attempting to keep my head above water.

Anyone who has lived through physical pain, mental anguish, and seemingly unclimbable mountains, knows that 'when it rains it pours'. And it's pouring for me.

The last two weeks I've been experiencing excruciating pain through my left leg. I went to the same orthopedic surgeon who diagnosed my first stress fractures and found out that they believe I have not only another tumor, but another stress fracture as well. And this one lines up with the first one I had on the other side of the leg. They meet in the middle and form a line straight through my leg.

I was devestated. Incase you don't know, a stress fracture is basically a broken bone that hasn't become completely detached from itself. And this is my fourth. I don't work out, I don't run, I don't play sports..I just have Marfan Syndrome.

I started to cry and asked the doctor what he wanted me to do. He immediately told me to get OFF of my legs. He said crutches weren't an option. That I could put all my weight on my RIGHT leg because that pressure can cause another fracture to develop there as well. He looked at me and said, "Ashley if you don't get into a wheelchair you could take a step and your leg could literally snap in half".

Ashley's section on tallwomen.org 

I need help.

If anyone is willing to advocate for me and help spread the word about the potentially life saving treatment I need I would really appreciate it.

I don't have a family support system so I'm reaching out to my Facebook family for help. Letters have been sent to local sports, news, and media but no one has been interested in my story.

I feel as though having a support system behind me advocating for me and helping to spread the word would make a difference. As of now I haven't wanted to involve my Facebook family much but the bottom line is that im dying.

I'm physically, financially, and emotionally slipping away. I need your help. Please. Even if you can share my story on your Facebook it's immensely appreciated.

Thank you.

Read Ashley's full story

Visit Ashley's support page on Facebook

Here's another update before yesterday's update

Ashley writes: Had to take an emergency trip to the doctor this morning. Last night my leg gave out and I slammed the inside (of my bad leg) onto the tile in my foyer. Doctor says I have fractured the inside of my knee and have some possible torn ligaments in my knee as well. I cant even walk to get to the bathroom, and with Zac heading to work I'm not sure how I'm going to make it alone. If anyone would be willing to come by and sit with me for a little while I'd really appreciate it.

Happy Holidays, everyone! This is Zac, Ashley's boyfriend.

I wanted to take a moment and write an update everyone following her story on how she's doing lately. Ashley had wanted to update y'all herself but every time she's down to try and write something she begins to cry and isn't able to finish.

We went to meet a new neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic in late November. She was referred to him by her primary doctor at an income based clinic in Mansfield, Ohio. She specifically requested to be referred to a Neurologist who specialized in Marfan syndrome. When asked if she would prefer to go to Ohio State Medical Center or the Cleveland Clinic, she requested OSU but was instead sent to Cleveland. After the long drive to the Cleveland Clinic we met with the Neurologist and quickly discovered that his only connection to the Marfan Community was his wife being friends with someone from the National Marfan Foundation. He did not specialize or have a working knowledge of MFS. The visit was extremely short. She requested to be tested via MRI for Dural Ectasia (a common disorder that comes with the majority of people suffering from connective tissue disorders). The Neurologist ordered an MRI but upon speaking to Ashley's Orthopedic Surgeon in Mansfield we were informed that he didn't order the correct test to look for Dural Ectasia.

A few days later we made the trip back to Cleveland for an MRI that lasted almost 2 hours. Ashley, who is terrified of needles (and required an MRI with contrast dye) was not treated kindly by the tech performing the test. By the time we returned home, Ashley had received an email from the Neurologist stating, "Your MRI results were fine". We couldn't understand how that could be considering the intense pain and numbness Ashley experiences simply from standing for more than 5 minutes at a time.

A few days after the MRI, Ashley met with her orthopedic surgeon again. She gave him the disc with the MRI on it. About 45 minutes later, Dr Godfrey came into the room, obviously irritated because even though he had requested a copy of the report from the neurologist, none was sent. Dr Godfrey himself reviewed the MRI to the best of his ability and came in to tell us that at the minimum Ashley has a slipped disc in her back. He also believes that a severely pinched nerve could be the cause of the excruciating pain Ashley feels in her left leg continuously. She still doesn't have a diagnosis of Dural
Ectasia, despite the fact that she has every symptom of the disorder.

Dr Godfrey still insists Ashley be on bed rest or in a wheelchair but despite the generous donations on her gofundme site, we haven't been able to get her one. The majority of the money she has received has had to go towards utilities and travel expenses from her frequent doctor visits. One trip to the Cleveland Clinic costs us upwards of $80 (and that's without being able to stop for lunch or dinner – we've never been able to do that due to cost).

Emotionally, Ashley seems to be sinking deeper and deeper into her depression. She will be unable to return to college in the coming semester because, despite being so close to graduating, three of the classes she has left for her major are 'practicums' which would require her to volunteer at a local human services agency (Job & Family Services, for example) for 20-50 hours a week of unpaid work. Ashley has been told she is not to work currently because of the extent of her pain and numerous doctors' visits.. Most days Ashley is unable to get out of bed for more than five to ten minutes at a time.
She is literally lying in bed all day alone. She's had no visitors since this all began a few months ago. I was forced to take our living room television to the pawn store three months ago to get her to an appointment. Now we're unable to pay the $300 to get it out so that she can at least sit in the living room some days.

She will be starting at a Pain Management facility in early January and is unsure what to expect. Her orthopedic surgeon had placed her on a mild muscle relaxer (to calm the extreme muscle twitches associated with her pain that keep her awake most night) and a strong pain reliever.

She informed Dr Godfrey that she had finally gotten into a routine with her medications that took the edge off the pain and allowed her to rest at night. Unfortunately, Dr Godfrey decided to take her from 8 tablets of pain medicine a day down to 2 in only 2 short weeks. Her pain is back and worse than ever.

Christmas was a very sad and emotional day for us both. We were unable to do anything for each other on Christmas due to our financial emergency. This devastated Ashley no matter how many times I told her that I didn't want her to worry about that.

I work six days a week as a tow truck driver for a local company. Despite working 6 hours a day with two 24 hour 'on call shifts', I'm only making $8.00/hr and bringing home approximately $200 a week. We're not able to get out of the financial hole we're in and I know that stresses my love out even more. She feels as though this situation is all her fault. As a result, I feel like I'm not doing my job supporting Ashley.

We still have not been able to get Ashley into a wheelchair because the type she needs runs around $700 used. She has recently been accepted for Medicaid but they, so far, have refused to fill he prescription provided by Dr Godfrey for the wheelchair.

Many have given us wonderful ideas as to how to get help from the government in an attempt to get our heads back above water. Ashley has spent hours on the phone and internet trying to get someone, anyone to help her. Without children, however, she doesn't qualify for utility assistance, cash assistance, transportation assistance, or food stamps (unless she works 20 hour a week – which she cannot do). We're learning now that Ashley more than likely won't be able to file for disability because the small widows pension she receives each month from her first husband's passing puts her over the 300% poverty level (her pension is approximately $1100/month).

I'm working as hard and long as I can but I'm not able to provide for her. Ashley is the love of my life. It breaks my heart to hear her cry, whimper when she tries to stand up or lay down. I want so badly to find a better paying job, but with us only having one vehicle that's almost impossible. Our electricity is dangerously close to be shut off and we haven't been able to grocery shop in months. Ashley is currently eating one meal a day to try and make what little we have left. I would love nothing more than to be able to bring groceries home, tell her the bills are caught up, and surprise her with a small bouquet of flowers to brighten her day. Won't you please help me make this happen?

We would like to, again, thank everyone who has shared her story, donated to her, prayed for her, and even researched Marfan syndrome to learn how it can affect a person. No two cases of MFS are the same, some are hit worse than others.

Ashley & I are both very prideful people who hate asking for help, even when it's desperately needed. I'm writing today to plead to the kindhearted people following her story to help us in any way you're able. Ashley is the absolute love of my life and I cannot stand to see her feeling so lonely and upset.

Please keep Ashley in your thoughts & prayers. She is a good woman who has been through absolute hell in her life. She's been knocked down hard. Between the left leg pain, her hip pain (one of the tumors has flared back again), her lower back pain, and the frequent headaches she suffers from I don't know how much longer she has before she breaks completely.

Every person who shares her story on their Facebook page and/or website is advocating for Ashley in a great way. Neither one of us could ever thank y'all enough. Ashley has mentioned to me several times that she's praying one day she can pay forward some of the generosity from people who
follow her story.

Thank you for reading, God bless you, & have a joyful New Year.

-Zachary Gibbs

Read Ashley's full story

Visit Ashley's support page on Facebook

Here's even worse news from Ashley 

It seems as though our world is crumbling around us. Zac was fired from his job today. I'm not able to go into much detail but it was completely unexpected and unwarranted. His boss wouldn't even fire him directly, he had someone else do it. According to several other employees, the owner 'avoids' the person he's firing when he knows they don't deserve it. Zac loved his job. He gave it everything he had to try to keep us afloat. He made minimum wage but was hoping to move to a better company with more experience under his belt. Tow truck driving quickly became his passion.

All of the progress we thought we'd made has disappeared. We couldn't afford to go a single week without Zac drawing a paycheck. He hit the pavement hard today but without much gas it's hard to tell when he'll be able to earn another.

I never thought I would do this but please, if you can find it in your heart to donate to my cause, even just $1, it would help me tremendously.
Thanks to an angel family that was brought into our lives our electric didn't get shut off and our rent was paid. The money that's been donated to this account (minus the large fee that gofundme takes) was used to assist me in getting to appointments, pay our rent, and put a downpayment on a wheelchair (still dont one).

I don't know what to do.

Physically I'll be moving into a different leg brace in about a week or so. Still required to be on 23 hour/day bedrest. I'll start intense physical therapy in the next few weeks as well. From there we'll have to make a decision about surgery.

Thank you for your prayers and love. God Bless.

If you can contribute to Ashley's GoFundMe appeal, please do. If you can't (and that's probably a lot of you) just spread the word. I promised Ashley I would do what I can and I stand by my word.

Read Ashley's full story

Visit Ashley's support page on Facebook

Go directly to Ashley's GoFundMe page

Here's not so good news from Ashley 

Joerg, I'm going to get evicted. My electric is going to be turned off next week. I'm terrified. I'm to the point where I just want to end my life. I've been trying to find help for days, I can't find any assistance because I don't have kids. I'm getting money from the VA starting this month but my bank account was overdrafted because a large bill went through my account when I didnt have the funds for it. So I wasn't able to pay any of my bills.

My doctor is saying now that he thinks I may need surgery because my MCL tear was a lot worse than he thought, now he's saying that I may have fractured my knee and torn my meniscus as well.

If you can contribute to Ashley's GoFundMe appeal, please do. If you can't (and that's probably a lot of you) just spread the word. I promised Ashley I would do what I can and I stand by my word.

Read Ashley's full story

Visit Ashley's support page on Facebook

Go directly to Ashley's GoFundMe page

Finally some good news from Ashley

I just got some exciting news that Fox 8 in Cleveland will be coming to my home Monday morning to film a story on my situation and Marfan Syndrome. They will be filming with my specialist, Dr. Curt Daniels, on Friday so it should air the following week. This is great news for the Marfan Family. Please send prayers that I can represent us in the best light possible.

Ashley

You can still contribute to Ashley's GoFundMe appeal or spread the word.

Read Ashley's full story

Visit Ashley's support page on Facebook

Go directly to Ashley's GoFundMe page

Here's the latest update from Ashley

I have a grade 3 (most severe) tear in the MCL of my left knee. I'm in a brace that goes from my ankle to the top of my thigh. I also have received MRI reports back stating that I have several large tumors that are intruding into my spinal cord, degenerative disc disease, a slipped disc. I won't be able to go back to school next semester (I'm going to be on bed rest fo a LEAST 2 months).

Zac is still working 6 days a week and picking up extra shifts when he can but our bills are still drowning us. We have received shut off notices for our gas and electricity. We're pretty desperate for help. I'm in the process of applying for disability but it can take a very long time for approval. I was going to venture out and try to get a job but I can't drive or walk right now and im supposed to be in bed 24/7.

Read Ashley's full story

Visit Ashley's support page on Facebook

Ashley writes

I was almost evicted last month and I dont have my rent for this month. Plus they've shut off my gas so o have no stove, heat, or hot water. My car is about to be relied over $200 and I have no food. Zac is working all the hours he can and looking for a second job, but he went a month without a check when his mom died.

Disability is dragging their feet. I have $15000 in back pay if they'd just approve me. I'd be more than happy to pay anyone back. I've had to cancel several of my doctor's appointments because I haven't had the money for gas. It is worse than it has ever been.

You can still contribute to Ashley's GoFundMe appeal or simply spread the word.

Read Ashley's full story

Visit Ashley's support page on Facebook

Go directly to Ashley's GoFundMe page

Hello! My name is Erika, I am 6'7" tall and live in the USA. I want to tell you a story about some of my struggles I had growing up:

I really started growing in the 3rd grade, at that time I was 5'8"; and being a third grader everyone didn't know what to think of me. All the kids made fun of me, and they were so mean. 3 years later and I grew to 6'1", I was just starting middle school, (or junior high) whatever you call it. Some of the boys thought it was cool, and the girls were jealous. I didn't realize at the time, I was a big threat to them. I was trying to make friends with anything I had in common, I played sports and was in the orchestra. Those kids saw me, not my height, and eventually others started seeing the inner me too. I guess you could say it was my grandmother, who preached for me to sit up straight, always telling me there was a string in the middle of my chest pulling me upward towards the ceiling. I didn't understand at the time, but later realized she wanted me to have good posture. She was 6'1" and passed away a couple of years ago aged 98. Almost a century old she had many stories to tell me when I was growing up. I would say those helped my confidence level improve. I wasn't concerned with the "popular or in-crowd" kids fall into; I was popular because I was a jock who could keep a beat, =) .

I was in the sixth grade, and school had just started and if learning your way around a new school wasn't enough drama I had extra drama due to my height. Try to visualize this...

I am in the restroom and the stalls are not full size: they are a little shorter because most kids are shorter, anyways, I was able to see over the door of the stall, my whole head was visible, and in walked a teacher. She saw me and instantly assumed I was standing on the toilet. With a yelling voice she pointed at me and said "you there get off that toilet, I see you" to my surprise, I asked "are you talking to me?" and questioning why she was telling me that. She said, "Yes, You, I see you above the stall!", I said, "Excuse me?!? Do you see those feet down there? Those are mine, and since those are mine, how could I be standing on the toilet?!?" I walked out of the stall and showed her I was standing on floor; not on the toilet at all, I was in fact just that tall. Her mouth hit the floor, well not literally, but almost, she was very apologetic all of a sudden, apologizing and said something like, "I am so sorry, I didn't know, I just assumed you were fooling around, please take these hall passes in return" I had enough hall passes for an entire year. I guess she was afraid I would tell my guidance counselor or some one higher up and she would be fired. She was very nice to me from that moment on. It was a real confidence booster. And we became friends until she retired a year later. I'll never forget that story and tell it quite often. It is a good example of how people perceive someone without really "knowing them". I am sure you have heard the saying, "Never judge a book by it's cover?"

As I was getting better in sports and others looked at me to help them WIN a game, it carried over when we were off the court too. Then their friends would become my friends too. You could say I didn't have that many "girl" friends growning up, they were threatened by me, because their boyfriends were all friends of mine, because I would play with them more than the girls and That is because I had a daredevil for a father, and that is another story.

So here is where I am ready to tell you, stand up tall, be proud of your height, beautiful = tall. People may not see it now, but they will admire you before long. It's what's in your heart that matters and if anyone says anything different, then they are NOT your friend and NOT worthy of your friendship. Your friends, (true friends) will see you - the real you, not your physical appearance.

There are some struggles you might encounter, but believe me the pros are much greater than the cons, and you will feel better about yourself and others will see it too. I cannot give you a date or time this will all happen, but for me, the change happened very quickly. I have found out that when I am in a crowded room people seem to move out of my way, (which is cool) and if they don't I bump into them and say, "oh, I am sorry, I didn't see you down there" You will notice some people are rude and we can get into that later. For now, I want you to think about what I have said here, and let me know what you think, talk to me, cause I have heard it all; and trust me I have been there.

The picture above shows Joerg and myself, and on a final note I want to say. I love my height and I wouldn't give up it up for anything in the world, anything. The past couple of years have been great I have been wearing heels, I figure what's a couple more inches right? Hehee.

I wish you all the best!
Erika

P.S.: No, I didn't have a chance to meet Sandy Allen who was a whole foot taller than me, I did however meet her best friend, who's 5'2" funny huh? Anyway, Rita is her name, she told me Sandy liked to joke about her height which seemed to break the ice, the awkward moments you have when people first see you, she did it with humor, Rita made her some shirts to wear that were funny, they said, "I like short people, I had 3 for lunch."

P.P.S.: The second picture is Rita and myself at Sandy Allen's viewing.

I know this blog post is not that topical but I'm publishing it anyway

Written by my good friend Uche Belinda Nnoka 

I was reading a blog post a couple of days ago written by a gentleman who provides resources for people experiencing workplace bullying. He had set up this organisation as a result of his own experiences with bullying in the workplace.

His post was about workplace violence where victims, after prolonged harassment and injustice, snap and kill their colleagues. The author made statements along the lines that not enough work place bullies are shot and killed and it serves them right when it happens!

It was obvious that the author was still deeply affected by the workplace bullying he had endured some years ago. His article was written in such a way that if someone read it and upon doing so decided to kill the colleagues who were causing them such anxiety, he could potentially have been implicated for inciting violenceIt was obvious that the author was still deeply affected by the workplace bullying he had endured some years ago. His article was written in such a way that if someone read it and upon doing so decided to kill the colleagues who were causing them such anxiety, he could potentially have been implicated for inciting violence.

What is PTSD?

This again made me ponder the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The National Health Service (NHS) website describes PTSD as follows:
PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. PTSD can develop immediately after someone experiences a disturbing event or it can occur weeks, months or even years later. It is estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience, but it's not clear exactly why some people develop the condition and others don't.

From what I understand people that suffer from PTSD will either explode or implode. We've all either read or heard about the tragic shootings that have taken place in US schools, but there are debates about whether or not these shootings were manifestations of PTSD as a result of bullying or some other trauma. For arguments sake, let's say that 50% of the shooters were bullied; their actions show that they exploded. They lashed out in revenge at those around them. Then you get the following group who we typically hear about. These are the ones who self-harm; they cut their arms, they take drugs, they drown themselves in alcohol and tragically some commit suicide. These are the ones who implode, or harm themselves instead of those around them.

People affected by PTSD

There is yet another group of people who we do not hear about as much, but who also have a form of PTSD. I have a suspicion that this group is the majority, but there aren't any concrete statistics to back up my theory. These are people who neither implode nor explode as in the examples given, but just limp through life. They have been emotionally scarred by an incident or incidents, and although though they do not lean towards either extreme, their entire lives are lived in the shadow of what happened to them.

I'll give you an example. During the 50's-80's it was common for families from African and Caribbean backgrounds who wanted a better life for themselves and their families to go abroad to the country of their choice and leave their children behind in the care of relatives whilst they tried to get themselves established. The logic was they wanted to send for their children once they had found a decent home for the family to live in along with secure jobs so that the transition for their children from one culture to another would be as smooth as possible. This was the situation that my friend Anna found herself in. Anna had been left in the custody of her aunt and unfortunately, like a lot of other children in the same situation, she was horribly abused by her mother's sister.

Anna's mother would send money to the aunt to contribute towards the food shopping and other expenditures, but Anna was starved on a regular basis. Clothes that were sent from Anna's for her to wear were instead given to her cousins by her aunt, so she was both hungry and unkempt. One day, unable to endure the hunger anymore, Anna snuck into the kitchen to get some food. She was caught by her aunt, who promptly beat her and tied her to a tree in the yard for the entire night. This episode led to Anna having a life long struggle with food; she would only ever eat a small bowl of food (which is the portion she was allowed when she lived with her aunt) in the evenings which was not particularly nutritious and was the cause of her weight issues. As Anna explained all these things to me, I recalled her also saying in a previous conversation that if she could live life without eating a meal, she would. Her trauma over her abuse lasted nearly 40 years.

There are many people who are living like Anna as well as like people in my previous examples. I would love to be in a position to work with these people to help them work through their trauma and help them get their lives back on track. One of my goals is to be able to study what PTSD truly is and get a professional qualification. One of the things I would love to be able to do is to give sound counsel to those I meet on my travels who are suffering in this way. If you would be interested in helping me realise this goal, please visit my GoFundMe page. When I start the course I will keep people abreast of my progress via this blog so keep checking in!

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The astonishing Lindsay Kay Haywardis part of a new series on TLC. It's called "My Giant Life" and will begin airing on the U.S. cable network on July 14 at 10 p.m. EST/9 p.m. CST.

All of the cast members are well over six-feet tall. The shortest woman featured in the show - Colleen, a 36-year-old former pro-Volleyball player – stands at six feet six inches tall and the tallest - Nancy Mulkey, a Texan high school basketball player - is six feet nine inches. Lindsay is not quite 6'9" herself (she officially stands at 6'8 3/4") and the World's Tallest Actress. As you can imagine these ladies have a lot to say about themselves and what challenges they are facing in their daily lives.

BYJULIE MAZZIOTTA @julietmazz

06/21/2016 AT 09:45 AM EDT

At 6'9", landing acting gigs is no easy task for actress Lindsay Hayward. And her bad head shots aren't helping.

To reignite her career, Hayward hires a photographer for new head shots in this exclusive clip from Tuesday's episode of My Giant Life.

"I'm here to get my head shots done, because last time I took head shots was a few years ago, so I definitely want to update my new, more radiant look," Hayward, 28, says in the clip. "I think that it's going to do wonders as far as getting my further in my acting career."

But as it turns out, Hayward is looking for less of a head shot, and more of a body shot.

"As a six-foot-nine-inch actress it's very, very important that I get full-length body shots because nobody believes how tall you are."

Hayward hates her old head shots because they were shot from an unflattering angle – by someone shorter than her – giving her a double chin.

"Everyone's looking at me from way down here and like I'm way up here, and when they look at me I've got that double chin angle, you know what I mean? It's not very flattering," she says. "Because I do have that as an insecurity, I need someone who's not taking that shot all the time."

"If I could change anything about my looks I would make my face a little bit thinner here," Hayward admits, pointing to her neck.

Luckily, she found a photographer, Sharon, who understands – even if she was a little surprised at Hayward's size.

"Holy cow, okay!" Sharon says. "I am used to working with much smaller people, so I was not expecting her to be as tall as she was."

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Another somewhat older article (written in 2012) but worth sharing

A girl who endured years of name-calling and even physical abuse because of her height has had the last laugh against school bullies - as she's now eyeing a career as a model.

Caroline Stillman, who was 6ft 4 by the age of 13, was once forced to become home-schooled because of the daily torrent of abuse she received from malicious pupils.

But now aged 20, the pretty blonde says she is finally happy with her size and has even been approached by model scouts who think she'd be perfect for the catwalk.

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Towering 6ft 4in mother who was taunted for looking like a MAN reveals how she has embraced her height - and now proudly dons heels to make herself even TALLER

• Mother Melanie Coulson, of Nottinghamshire, towers over most people at 6ft 4in
• She suffered years of bullying and strangers accused her of looking like a 'man'
• The 46-year-old has a rare hereditary condition that causes her to be extra tall
• Now she embraces her appearance and wears heels to make herself look taller 

By STEPHANIE LINNING FOR MAILONLINE - PUBLISHED: 10:43 BST, 7 August 2018 | UPDATED: 15:12 BST, 8 August 2018

A 6ft 4in mother who used to dream of being shorter revealed how she learnt to embrace her height - and now wears hears to make herself even taller.

Melanie Coulson, 46, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, suffered years of bullying over her appearance, with strangers stopping her in the street to ask if she was a man because she was 'too tall to be a woman'. 

The accounts administrator, whose height and slender limbs are symptom of a rare hereditary condition, took to stooping and wearing flat shoes in order to 'fit in' and longed to be shorter. 

However with the help of her daughters Rebecca, 26, and Hayley, 23, Ms Coulson learnt to embrace her height, saying she believes she was 'born to stand out, not blend in'. 

She now runs YouTube and Instagram channels encouraging others to love their bodies - and feels proud when she teeters around in heels that make her 6ft 10in tall.

She said: 'The best thing about my height today, is the fact that I have now come to terms with it, this didn't happen overnight and age has definitely been a big factor in this. I now stand by the moto: I was born to stand out, not blend in.' 

She added: 'I now wear heels for my videos that make me around 6ft 10in. I do get lots of stares, which is fine, as I used to get them anyway so I may as well get stared at for doing something that I love, which is being extra tall.

The mother-of-two was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome, which affects the body's connective tissue, with its main characteristics being long and slender limbs and being tall. According to the NHS, it affects one in 3,000 people.

She was 6ft 4in tall by the time she was a teenager.  

Growing up her unusual height meant she was bullied through school and was made to feel 'generally unattractive' by others in her twenties and thirties. 

'I have struggled with people's attitudes towards my height,' Ms Coulson said. 

'People are so quick to judge, and I am often asked if I'm a male or female, or if I am a transvestite, which I did find really upsetting in the beginning. 

'People do not realise how hurtful a comment like this can be, it's certainly not giving my ego a boost.

'When I have challenged people why they ask this, their reason is generally along the lines of "well you are too tall to be a female" which makes me sad that their attitudes are so shallow.'

Ms Coulson, who has a 36in inside leg, still struggles to buy clothes and is limited to shopping Dorothy Perkins or New Look's tall ranges.

The body positivity activist, who also wears a prosthetic eye and has vitiligo, hopes she can encourage anyone struggling to come to terms with who they are to be proud and embrace what some may consider 'flaws'.

She said: 'Through comments I get on my videos or on my Instagram I can see that I have already helped some people. I can honestly say I love my height and actually wish I was taller.

'I love to meet fellow tall women and stand in awe at them or ask for photos more recently so I can put it on my Instagram. Never did I realise that so many people love tall women.'

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Woman who grew to 7ft tall thanks to undiscovered tumour marries man over a foot shorter

Laura Abernethy - Wednesday 9 Jun 2021 5:03 pm

From the age of 10, Elisane Silva started to notice she was much taller than her classmates, and even her family.

At that stage she was already 5ft 9 but she kept growing, and now the 26-year-old stands at 6ft 8in.

Her mother Ana Maria Ramos is just 5ft 4in and father Luiz Jorge is 5ft 7in so they didn’t think it was down to genetics.

They later discovered her stature is down to a benign tumour on her pituitary gland, which has caused an overproduction of growth hormone and a condition called giantism.

Elisane, from Salinopolis, Brazil, had no idea about the tumour until 2010 when she had tests on live TV, as her family was unable to pay for them.

Known unofficially as ‘Brazil’s tallest woman’, she married Francinaldo Da Silva Carvalho, 31, in 2015 and he stands at just 5ft 4in – 1ft 4in shorter than her

‘Since I was ten-years-old, I always noticed that there wasn’t something quite right as I was the only one in my family and class that stood at a staggering five-foot-nine-inches,’ Elisane said.

‘My mother is only five-foot-four-inches and my father is just five-foot-seven-inches, so it was a shock to our entire family when I was the tallest member at so young.

‘I began experiencing intense pain in my bones and a lot of pressure build up in my head which I believe was due to the excessive rate I was growing, so we decided to visit a medical professional./p>

‘They suggested performing a few routine tests to get to the bottom of why I was so tall, but as my family were unable to pay for the medical costs, this wasn’t an option.

‘However, a national television network approached my family after hearing my story and in 2010, we flew to Sao Paulo, Brazil, where I appeared on national television and had all my tests done for free on behalf of the network.

‘Although this was embarrassing, I was just glad to finally have an answer and to stop the pain that I was going through as a result of my height.

‘As I received the results, medics found that I had a benign tumour growing on my pituitary gland which had caused an overproduction in my growth hormone and was the reason for my condition.’

Growing up wasn’t easy for Elisane and she was often bullied, with people calling her names like ‘giraffe’, ‘lamppost’ and ‘giant’.

The comments impacted her mental health significantly and she eventually left school completely.

‘I remember locking myself up at home as I felt so sick with the hurtful comments and words people were constantly saying to me,’ said Elisane.

‘I decided to give up and it was the hardest decision I have ever had to make, as I wanted to continue studying but I knew that I wouldn’t last any longer in that environment.

‘At the time, I was seventeen-years-old, so my parents didn’t have much to say on the matter and I was really lost about where to go next in life.’

In 2011, she met Francinaldo and they quickly fell in love, despite the height difference.

‘I felt an instant connection the moment I met him, that I didn’t even notice his height. Francinaldo stands at just five-foot-four-inches, which is nearly two-foot shorter than me – but I didn’t care,’ she said.

‘Although he was curious about my height and condition, he didn’t make any evil comments, nor did he judge me for the way I looked.

‘I fell for him right there and then, as he was the first person to treat me like a human being and not some freak of nature.

‘Although there is an obvious height difference, we don’t see it as an issue as we love each other just the way we are and wouldn’t want anything to change.

‘In 2012, Francinaldo proposed to me and even though I was just a teenager, I wanted to spend my life with him.’

They married in September 2015 and went on to have a son, Angelo, three, who is currently 3ft 1in.

Elisane said: ‘Although we used to get comments from people in the street when we were walking together, I’m no longer the centre of attention now we have our beautiful son.

‘Angelo is already three-foot-three-inches at three-years-old, but I don’t believe he will grow to be as tall as me because I don’t think my condition is hereditary.

‘I think he will grow up to be average height – but even if not, he should embrace the unique asset he has been given.’

Elisane is now working towards becoming a professional model, which has been a dream since she was a teenager.

She said: ‘Although I haven’t been successful just yet, I usually go out and take professional photos of myself and add it to my portfolio to pass on to agencies.

‘Despite no agencies picking up on them yet, these photo sessions have helped my levels of confidence immensely and I have started to love myself for who I am.

‘I get comments from those online who see my photos, who have called me the ‘tallest woman in Brazil’ and although this is probably true, nothing has been made official yet.’

Although she spent many years feeling self conscious about her height, she says her family have helped her learn to love who she is.

She added: ‘I have learned to love myself for my unique height, as there’s no-one quite like me and I think that’s rather special.

‘I have found a good man to love, have a wonderful son, a beautiful family and I am grateful that God has taught me to overcome these obstacles in life.

‘Don’t let people’s evil comments interfere with your life, as it’s not for them to judge you based on how you look or who you love – stay true to yourself and you’ll live happily.’

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Phoebe Waller

As a gangly, long-limbed adolescent, I struggled to come to terms with my height. But as a full-grown, way more body confident adult, I'm happy to report that I'm a tall girl who wears heels and loves it. Where I used to shy away from comments about being a string bean while allowing gender norms about tall women to get me down, I can now embrace my nearly 5'9" self fully.

I was particularly tall for my age throughout school, always among the most bean pole-esque kids in my class. I cringe when I remember the boy I had a crush on in middle school. I was too afraid to stand next to him, simply because he was much shorter than me. Even though I can hardly believe it now, I used to balance on the outer sides of my feet in the hopes that this would take about an inch off my height, particularly because all my shoes had a slight platform. Nowadays, my fiancé is actually taller than me, but I wouldn't be bothered if I were the "stilts" in the relationship.

Although there are some struggles we tall girls face from time to time, like finding clothes to cover our limbs or never having enough legroom on planes, we shouldn't be creating more problems for ourselves based on what society and mainstream media deem attractive or feminine. This is why I love wearing heels as a tall girl.

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There are all sorts of reasons why millions of people go into nursing. Helping improve other people's health and lives, being in a role that makes a difference, working in a variety of environments, and having a flexible work schedule are just some of the benefits that you can receive from a healthcare role.

Regardless of the nursing specialty you pick, you may not realize that your height can make your job easier. If height is on your side, there are numerous advantages that you can gain when compared to those who are smaller than you. To find out more, here are 7 reasons why tall nurses have an advantage.

Reach Equipment Easier

Whether you're a neonatal nurse, nurse practitioner, or work in intensive care, in order to perform your job correctly, it's vital that you can reach equipment with ease to ensure the patient is receiving the best level of care. If a patient needs to have an IV drip inserted, the taller you are, the easier it will be to complete the process. Smaller nurses may have more difficulty attaching the IV bag, which is where your height will come in handy.
A taller nurse will also be able to monitor the IV bag throughout and be able to identify whether it needs to be changed, as it would be directly in your line of vision. Patients need to feel relaxed and comfortable in your presence, so being able to handle and operate equipment with ease can help them feel more relaxed and settled. If you have difficulty reaching equipment, this can make a patient feel anxious.

Given More Respect

If you're passionate about healthcare and want to go into a career in nursing, you may not realize how your height can benefit you in terms of commanding authority and respect. Unfortunately, there are some individuals who will judge a person on height, especially if they are smaller than average. If you're a tall nurse, you may find that healthcare professionals give you more respect and take you more seriously.
When addressing your thoughts, opinions, and concerns, it's vital that your colleagues listen to what you have to say, so being a tall nurse may help you in these instances. Earning respect from both those who you work with and managers in your field can open more doors and build trust. If you would like to work with babies and obtain a midwifery degree, parents may trust your judgment more, purely down to your height.

Less Likely to Be Attacked

There are many benefits that you can receive from a career in nursing, but as you will be treating patients from all walks of life and backgrounds, there is an element of risk attached. Emotions can spiral out of control in tense situations, and as you will be dealing with individuals of all different heights and weight, there is the possibility that they could lash out in anger. If you're treating a patient with dementia for example, they may not realize that you're trying to help them, which can result in a physical assault.
If you're a tall nurse, you will have more chance of being able to defend yourself and restrain the patient. There are some patients who may see smaller nurses as weaker, making them more likely to lash out in frustration.

Enhanced Productivity

Research carried out by the National Bureau of Economic Research concluded that taller people tend to be more productive in their professions. The seven-year study was based on the hourly earnings of each of those researched throughout the course of the report. As a nurse, it's crucial that you're alert and in control when treating patients, so having higher productivity levels can help you deliver better care.
Those who are more productive are said to feel more satisfied and confident in their role, which can be beneficial should you wish to climb the career ladder and want to enter senior positions in the nursing field like management.

More Stamina

Throughout your nursing career, 12-hour shifts and being on your feet throughout come part and parcel with the job. To perform your role effectively, it's important that you have the energy and stamina to get through. Taller people will have longer legs, which can help you get from A to B quicker and reduce the risk of you feeling rundown and fatigued throughout your shift.
Regular exercise is a key component to becoming a successful nurse, so to boost your energy and keep you on track, taking 30 minutes out of your day to dedicate towards physical activity can be a big help.

You May Be Happier

Here is another advantage to smile about. Tall nurses are reported to exude more positive emotions than those who are smaller than them. Nurses that have a greater stature may be less likely to experience feelings of sadness, anger, and frustration. When treating patients and communicating with other healthcare professionals, it's vital that you stay upbeat and positive, even in tough situations. So, feeling happier and more confident in your abilities will rub off to others in your field and can help build strong relationships with patients.

Better Observation

Whether you work in a hospital environment, doctors' clinic, or visit people in their homes, tall nurses have the advantage of being able to observe their surroundings better. Small nurses may not be able to assess the situation in the same manner, which can have a major impact on the care the patient receives.

There are lots of benefits that you can receive from being observant as a tall nurse, such as being able to identify any changes in a patient's health or patterns of behavior, as well as providing tailored care for older adults' needs.
If you are interested in a career in nursing, or you have already begun your training and learning, being taller than your counterparts may provide you with more advantages than you thought were possible. Your height can play a big part in how well you perform in a nursing role, so no matter what specialty of nursing catches your eye, there are many reasons why tall nurses have an advantage.

You'll never look at short guys the same way again

By Hayley MacMillen Nov 01, 2016

I know many an otherwise open-minded woman who swears that she would never date someone shorter than she is, and I used to count myself among them. I clock in at 5-foot-10, a good 6 inches taller than the average American woman, and had never considered dating a guy shorter than me until I ended up falling for one — and I’m happy I did. So much for that deal-breaker.

One 2012 study in the U.K. showed that in 92.5 percent of opposite-sex couples, the man was taller than the woman. According to the CDC, the average height difference between men and women is 5.5 inches (coincidentally — or maybe not — that’s about the same length as the average erect penis. Do with that what you will). And both men and women feel pressure to adhere to height norms: One 2008 study of college students found that about 50 percent of guys wanted their partners to be shorter than them, while 90 percent of women wanted their partners to be taller than them. I’m here to tell you that this requirement is overrated. Here’s why.

1. Guys who are comfortable with you being taller are likely comfortable with your ambition, intellect, and talent too. A guy who can look at all those statistics and societal pressures and say "eff that" is less likely to be threatened by other ways that you buck gender stereotypes — for example, instead of feeling weird about you getting a raise or showing off your superior sports knowledge, he’ll celebrate the fact that he’s with someone who doesn’t make herself smaller to accommodate others.

2. You don’t have to make any calculations about the height of your heels. While other women might feel like they have to pass on a perfectly cute pair of shoes or stick to flats so they stay shorter than their dates, you’re already taller than your man in bare feet, what’s the difference between being 2 inches taller or 5? Wear whichever killer heels your heart desires.

3. You’ll dramatically expand your dating pool. Finding someone who is socially, emotionally, intellectually, and sexually compatible with you is hard. Yes, it makes sense to narrow your pool of potential suitors based on what you value — it’s very reasonable to look for someone with a basic understanding of grammar, for example — but too long a list of non-negotiables can blind you to people who could make you very happy. The CDC has reported that about 59 percent of U.S. guys from 20 to 29 years of age are under 5-foot-10, the average male height, while only about 20 percent of guys exceed the 6-foot mark. If you "only date" men at least 6 feet tall, you’re shooting yourself in the foot as far as selection.

4. Dating shorter can help you get over your own insecurities about size. When I first started dating a shorter guy, I felt insecure: not about my own height but about whether I would read as "feminine" to my partner and, admittedly, to the world when we were out together. I even wondered with some concern whether I weighed more than he did, again, not because I felt like I needed to lose weight, but because I had absorbed the cultural script that says that women should be daintier than guys. But it’s not the Upper Paleolithic, and I don’t need anyone to defend me from a saber-toothed cat; it’s 2016, and we know that femininity is a social construct. If two people make each other laugh and want to have sex all the time, who cares which one is more compact?

5. Research suggests that short men do a larger share of the housework. A 2014 working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research on men’s heights and relationship dynamics found that on average, short men (here defined as 5-foot-7 and below) did eight hours and 28 minutes of housework per week, or about 28 percent of the total. Tall men (6-foot-2 and above) completed about seven hours and 30 minutes a week, while men of average height did seven hours and 38 minutes. Yes, men of all statures are doing less housework than they should (how tall are the men who do 50 percent of it?), but short men are apparently less likely to leave their dirty dishes in the sink. Score.

6. Short men may also earn a larger share of the household income. The same paper found that 78 percent of short men out-earn their partners, as opposed to 69 percent of average men and 71 percent of tall men. That isn’t necessarily in and of itself a good thing (cough, gender wage gap, cough), it does suggest that short men are doing more to support their partners in terms of both housework and finances.

7. Short men are least likely to divorce. Finally, the paper showed that while divorce rates for tall and average-height men were comparable, they were 32 percent lower for short men. Maybe short men’s partners are enjoying sharing the housework, financial support, and willingness to flout stereotypes in favor of a strong relationship.

Follow Hayley on Twitter.

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