Community unites to help teen with rapid growth disease

Broc Brown is not your average 15-year-old high school student. Brown, who is 7 feet 5 inches and weighs 330 pounds, has a rare rapid growth disease known as Sotos syndrome, or cerebral gigantism. He was more than 3 feet tall by the time he was only 2 months old. Brown likes his height, saying, "It's actually a good feeling to be tall." Unfortunately, his height interferes with everyday activities such as walking from room to room at his parents' house. Brown has to constantly duck under doorways to avoid hitting his head.

"There's a lot of things that are hard, like finding shoes for him, finding clothes," said Brown's mother, Darci Elliot. Athletic apparel powerhouse Nike made Brown a pair of custom size 24 sneakers, but the price of his other clothing and medical expenses continue to be a burden on the family.

His disease forces him to be hospitalized often, and he cannot participate in organized sports because his disease makes him too weak and out of breath.

Brown just recently finished a month's stay at the hospital dealing with heart problems, and his Michigan community wants to help alleviate some of the burden. Also, since doctors expect Brown to continue growing and reach at east 8 feet, the clothing and medical bills will grow right along with him.

Brown's fellow students at Vandercook Lake High School started a Facebook page to help raise money for his family. There was even a group of soldiers in Iraq that shared a picture of support on the page. If you want to help Broc and his family, go to his Facebook page by clicking on the link below:

Broc Brown's Facebook

[Related: World's Tallest Man May Have Stopped Growing]

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/community-unites-help-7-5-teen-rapid-growth-185012422.html

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