Just curious about your opinion on this.
By Amber
@AmbiePam (85627)
United States
April 16, 2024 4:28am CST
I was mentioning to another Mylotter about my 8 year old nephew, Hudson, and how his pediatrician brought up giving him HGH (human growth hormone) to help him grow as he is undersized for his age. If you are not familiar, Hudson is adopted, and has fetal alcohol syndrome. This has resulted in his legs previously being in braces, his eardrums turning inside out, his eye muscles being tightened, and for him currently taking medication for his psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis (he also has sensory issues and learning challenges). So, you give him the HGH shots to give him the best chance of a “normal” life, right?
Well, not so fast. The doctor was hesitant to bring it up. Because unless a miracle (and it’s always possible) happens, Hudson is never going to live on his own and be like you and me. He’ll likely live with my sister and her husband until they pass on. Then, he’ll probably live with Amyra or Annelyn (his adopted sisters). My sister never wants them to feel pressure to do so, but almost 13 year old Amyra has said Hudson will never be in a home if she’s around. So, one might think it would be better to keep him relatively small so older parents or sisters can more easily take care of him. My sister though, says if he would have been taller (his parents were 6’2 and 5’10) had he not had fetal alcohol syndrome, she wants him to have a chance to be how he would have been naturally.
Don’t get me wrong, this is none of my business, and I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. I don’t feel strongly either way, and this is just a discussion where I am curious about others opinions.
What do you think?
28 people like this
26 responses
@sabtraversa (12974)
• Italy
16 Apr
GH does more than helping children grow taller. It also makes muscles bigger and stronger, and it can even boost the mood as well as cognitive skills. At least in adults. Maybe it won't make Hudson totally independent but it will improve his quality of life and perhaps give him a chance to do more on his own.
His family is very supportive and wants the best for him, so I think they're more likely to accept the GH treatment in such case.
5 people like this
@1creekgirl (40569)
• United States
16 Apr
I don't know enough about HGH to give an informed opinion. But I know your family well enough to know they will research every single piece of legitimate information and pray unceasing for God's direction, approval, and healing for their sweet boy.
3 people like this
@much2say (53952)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Apr
It was brought up once by the pediatrician when my son was maybe around 5 or 6. He has always been on the very smaller side, but well, we are on the shorter and skinnier side too. We decided not to do it - we wanted him to grow naturally too. He's now 14 and at least taller than me, but still skinny and shorter than his peers . . . otherwise strong and healthy.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (57897)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Apr
I think he deserves the best chance he can possibly get. Keeping him smaller might lead to a shorter lifespan, or developing other problems because his body isn't able to keep up. At the same time, I understand the fear of having to deal with the challenges of raising someone who's growing and might become biger than you. There's no guarentee giving him the HGH will cause him to grow as tall as his biological parents, but it may help him overcome at least one of the challenges .
Growing may improve his quality of life physically, allowing him to do more for y himself as an adult, It might improve the quality of organs and bones making him more stable. or, it may not do any of those things. If nothing else, he won't be bullied for being small, and never being able to understand why. So, it might , if for no other reason, improve his mental health, by giving one less challenge you can't explain.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (57897)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Apr
@AmbiePam Thank you. I'm extremly good at posting my opinion. Which is what you'd asked for.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57996)
• Centralia, Washington
16 Apr
@AmbiePam I used to help a man with his reading issues. Or I tried to. He was in his 40s and lived alone but had supportive landlords. He lived off disability and walked to the dentist;s office that he cleaned to make money. He really didn't and never will understand the basics of things like counting. He was such a nice guy. He didn't understand things like paying taxes when you own a house and on he went.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (157622)
• United States
17 Apr
Keeping him small on purpose is like binding the feet of girls to keep them small in other countries. I know you are very intelligent and I believe your sister is too, so she will do all the research she can to decide. If there is no negative side effects for him giving the HGH a fair trial sounds reasonable to me.
2 people like this
@xstitcher (30339)
• Petaluma, California
17 Apr
I have never dealt with HGH myself.
2 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36474)
• Toccoa, Georgia
16 Apr
If it helps him in a small way to have a better life, it may be a good thing.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (73553)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Apr
This is a tough situation. Keeping him small makes it easier to handle him and easier to dress him. Making him taller can be harder to control him and certainly spend more on getting clothes to fit him, All I can say I hope some kind of decision can be made and many blessings to the family, I it wonderful as it is that they even adopted this child,
2 people like this
@JESSY3236 (18919)
• United States
16 Apr
I think he should be given the shots. I'm 4'11 and I don't like being short.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325983)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Apr
It's hard to know what's best in cases like this. I'd want to know about any possible side issues. Sometimes these don't get mentioned either. If he isn't given the hormone, what height is he likely to reach, and would that be acceptable? I just read further down and it seems it might be a good thing.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85627)
• United States
17 Apr
The only downside really is if this is going to keep him from being able to be cared for at home. It won’t help his mind or anything, and that’s hard to explain to people who don’t realize how severe his mental handicaps are. I think they’ll go ahead with the shots. After all, surely if his sisters have to care for him, there will be an aid sent in to help bathe him or do anything that requires strength.
2 people like this
@MommyOfEli2013 (82047)
• Rupert, Idaho
16 Apr
That would be a tough decision....I am not really sure what I would do
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (170186)
• United States
16 Apr
Overall, it probably does more good than harm. I know very little about it though. I trust sis and the doc have done their homework on this
2 people like this
@marguicha (215587)
• Chile
16 Apr
The doctor should have the last word, in my opinion. And if there is a chance for him, however slim, then he should have it.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (49058)
• United States
16 Apr
I don’t know anything about this growth hormone. I’d pray that the right decision is made.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95429)
• Marion, Ohio
16 Apr
I would have to talk to his doctors and do a lot of research to decide.
2 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (79833)
• United States
16 Apr
I don't know anything about HGH but it seems like it would be more positive than negative for Hudson.
2 people like this
