Medical Mysteries with Dr. Oz - Show Recap
Original Air Date:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Medical Mysteries - Brenden:
With more than 6.7 billion people living in the world, Brenden Adams is truly one of a kind. The 12 year old Washington resident is known as "the boy who can't stop growing" - he already stands at 7 ft 3 inches.
After introducing the show topic, Oprah cut to clips of Brenden and his family at home. While Brenden was born at a normal birth size, he began growing rapidly and at 4 months had teeth and larger joints.
By kindergarten, Brenden was the size of a 5th grader.
Doctors were stumped to what was causing Brenden to grow and for years did tests that mainly focused on his bones. A bone marrow test revealed that in utero, a chromosome detached, flipped, and reattached causing the genetic changes. With the testing they have performed, doctors still are unaware of what lies ahead for Brenden in the future and what his life expectancy is.
Brenden shared in a clip that his biggest challenge is being seen as normal by others and being able to just be a 12 year old boy. The family has also had to custom design their home so that Brenden can fit.
Through all of his challenges, Brenden has a number of friends and isn't teased or judged in school or his community. He shared that he loves himself the way he is and couldn't see himself being any other way. He revealed to Dr. Oz that he hopes for the best for his future and doesn't dwell on the negative.
On the show, Dr. Oz explained the size difference of Brenden's bones with a model femur.
Brenden's doctors have been able to stop him from growing since February of this year by inducing puberty by increasing his testosterone levels.
Brenden shared in a clip from his home the few items of clothing he has that have been custom made to fit him. Wearing an 18 4E shoe makes it difficult for Brenden to even find items online. On the show, Oprah surprised Brenden with Shaq via satellite; who Brenden shared he relates to because of his size. Shaq announced to Brenden and his family that he would be flying them to Phoenix to hang out, shop and attend a game. Not only that, but Shaq promised to have his tailor custom make new clothing for Brenden. Shaq gave Brenden the advice to be tall, beautiful and hold his head high.
Medical Mysteries - Kristin:
At 26, Kristin Riley stands at just 39" tall - the height of an average 4 year old child. Kristin is 1 of only 100 primordial dwarfs who unlike other types of dwarfs are proportionately perfect, just smaller. When Kristin was born she weighed just 2 pounds 11 ounces and was 15 inches tall - 75% smaller than the average newborn.
Kristin walked cameras through her home from her perspective - even the simple task of doing laundry can be a big job for Kristin who has to modify her surroundings before she can complete a task. Driving and shopping are both activities Kristin can participate in with certain changes.
With a modified car, Kristin can drive just like any other person, and buying clothes in the children's section doesn't bother Kristin as long as she still looks like an adult. What she hopes people will realize is that she is normal, just smaller, with the same hopes, dreams, feelings and problems that other people have.
Medical Mysteries - Jill:
Jill Price is unlike any person Dr. Oz has ever seen - she can remember every detail of her life for the last 20 years. When Jill sat down with Dr. Oz and Oprah, she shared that she first started to realize she could remember her life in great detail when she was in 7th grade; though she didn't mention anything about it until a year later.
Jill can actually remember details of her life as far back as the crib, but not with as many specifics as her older years. Living with not only the memory of events, but the emotions that went with the events, Jill shared that living with this ability has formed who she is.
Jill doesn't have the luxury of letting go with time as most people do, she lives her life with open and raw emotions that she has had to learn to deal with to have a normal life with family and friends.
Oprah tested Jill's memory with dates as she remembers them not from memorizing, but by what she was doing on the specific day. The dates Oprah mentioned were the day John Lennon was murdered, the day baby Jessica fell down the well, the OJ Simpson car chase and the day Princess Diana died.
Jill also remembers details of television shows she watched over time including the first week of The Oprah Winfrey Show and a Christmas episode in 1990. Oprah asked Jill if her brain gets tired and Jill responded that she never stops thinking and recalling memories, but that she has been used to that kind of activity for her entire life. The most difficult time for Jill is the time of year that she remembers the 6 weeks from her husband's birthday until his death which is a time she says is hard for anyone to be around her because she relives the memories in such detail.
Dr. Oz explained that Jill's brain activity is a mystery to doctors because medicine cannot explain how we remember events in our lives. People can strengthen their own memory by eating foods rich in Omega-3, antioxidants and calcium as well as doing brain strengthening puzzles and games.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Medical Mysteries - Brenden:
With more than 6.7 billion people living in the world, Brenden Adams is truly one of a kind. The 12 year old Washington resident is known as "the boy who can't stop growing" - he already stands at 7 ft 3 inches.
After introducing the show topic, Oprah cut to clips of Brenden and his family at home. While Brenden was born at a normal birth size, he began growing rapidly and at 4 months had teeth and larger joints.
By kindergarten, Brenden was the size of a 5th grader.
Doctors were stumped to what was causing Brenden to grow and for years did tests that mainly focused on his bones. A bone marrow test revealed that in utero, a chromosome detached, flipped, and reattached causing the genetic changes. With the testing they have performed, doctors still are unaware of what lies ahead for Brenden in the future and what his life expectancy is.
Brenden shared in a clip that his biggest challenge is being seen as normal by others and being able to just be a 12 year old boy. The family has also had to custom design their home so that Brenden can fit.
Through all of his challenges, Brenden has a number of friends and isn't teased or judged in school or his community. He shared that he loves himself the way he is and couldn't see himself being any other way. He revealed to Dr. Oz that he hopes for the best for his future and doesn't dwell on the negative.
On the show, Dr. Oz explained the size difference of Brenden's bones with a model femur.
Brenden's doctors have been able to stop him from growing since February of this year by inducing puberty by increasing his testosterone levels.
Brenden shared in a clip from his home the few items of clothing he has that have been custom made to fit him. Wearing an 18 4E shoe makes it difficult for Brenden to even find items online. On the show, Oprah surprised Brenden with Shaq via satellite; who Brenden shared he relates to because of his size. Shaq announced to Brenden and his family that he would be flying them to Phoenix to hang out, shop and attend a game. Not only that, but Shaq promised to have his tailor custom make new clothing for Brenden. Shaq gave Brenden the advice to be tall, beautiful and hold his head high.
Medical Mysteries - Kristin:
At 26, Kristin Riley stands at just 39" tall - the height of an average 4 year old child. Kristin is 1 of only 100 primordial dwarfs who unlike other types of dwarfs are proportionately perfect, just smaller. When Kristin was born she weighed just 2 pounds 11 ounces and was 15 inches tall - 75% smaller than the average newborn.
Kristin walked cameras through her home from her perspective - even the simple task of doing laundry can be a big job for Kristin who has to modify her surroundings before she can complete a task. Driving and shopping are both activities Kristin can participate in with certain changes.
With a modified car, Kristin can drive just like any other person, and buying clothes in the children's section doesn't bother Kristin as long as she still looks like an adult. What she hopes people will realize is that she is normal, just smaller, with the same hopes, dreams, feelings and problems that other people have.
Medical Mysteries - Jill:
Jill Price is unlike any person Dr. Oz has ever seen - she can remember every detail of her life for the last 20 years. When Jill sat down with Dr. Oz and Oprah, she shared that she first started to realize she could remember her life in great detail when she was in 7th grade; though she didn't mention anything about it until a year later.
Jill can actually remember details of her life as far back as the crib, but not with as many specifics as her older years. Living with not only the memory of events, but the emotions that went with the events, Jill shared that living with this ability has formed who she is.
Jill doesn't have the luxury of letting go with time as most people do, she lives her life with open and raw emotions that she has had to learn to deal with to have a normal life with family and friends.
Oprah tested Jill's memory with dates as she remembers them not from memorizing, but by what she was doing on the specific day. The dates Oprah mentioned were the day John Lennon was murdered, the day baby Jessica fell down the well, the OJ Simpson car chase and the day Princess Diana died.
Jill also remembers details of television shows she watched over time including the first week of The Oprah Winfrey Show and a Christmas episode in 1990. Oprah asked Jill if her brain gets tired and Jill responded that she never stops thinking and recalling memories, but that she has been used to that kind of activity for her entire life. The most difficult time for Jill is the time of year that she remembers the 6 weeks from her husband's birthday until his death which is a time she says is hard for anyone to be around her because she relives the memories in such detail.
Dr. Oz explained that Jill's brain activity is a mystery to doctors because medicine cannot explain how we remember events in our lives. People can strengthen their own memory by eating foods rich in Omega-3, antioxidants and calcium as well as doing brain strengthening puzzles and games.
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