THREE-FOOT-TALL woman, 25, with a rare form of dwarfism opens up about her struggle to find love - revealing the men she finds either reject her for her size or have 'disturbing fetishes'
A three-foot-tall woman with a rare form of dwarfism - which has forced her to get more than 30 surgeries over her lifetime - is now working as a fashion model and on the hunt for a boyfriend.
Carly Ruhnke, 25, from New Jersey, has a condition known as Morquio syndrome. For years, she struggled in a world 'not built for people with dwarfism or any other disability,' and was often left feeling like she wasn't 'equal' to her peers.But Carly didn't let it bring her down. Besides breaking the mold by becoming a catwalk model, she also launched her own non-profit last year called Little Carly Foundation, and has raised thousands of dollars through it.
However, while she has propelled in her professional life, Carly still struggles with one thing – dating.
She is currently on the hunt for 'Mr. Right,' but between the men who have made nasty comments about her size and the ones who have 'dwarfism fetishes,' she has had little success in the love department so far.
A three-foot-tall woman with a rare form of dwarfism - which forced her to get more than 30 surgeries over her lifetime - is now working as a fashion model and on the hunt for a boyfriend
Carly Ruhnke, 25, from New Jersey, has a condition known as Morquio syndrome
For years, Carly (pictured as a child) struggled in a world 'not built for people with dwarfism or any other disability,' and was often left feeling like she wasn't 'equal' to her peers
But Carly didn't let it bring her down. She has now broken the mold by becoming a catwalk model. She is pictured on the runway'I’ve had somewhat of a dating life but nothing has gotten serious,' she explained to Jam Press.
She also launched her own non-profit last year called Little Carly Foundation, and has raised thousands of dollars through it
'It’s difficult because of my dwarfism, as I would usually go for a person of average height but they tend to have rather mind-blowing fetishes.
'People have said to me, "I’ve been looking for someone as short as you my whole life," or [asked] disturbing questions about my body.
'I think because of these comments, I’m holding out for Mr. Right and for someone who won't talk down to me. I might be three-feet-tall, but I’m still a grown woman with feelings.'
Despite being picked on for most of her life, Carly is very confident in herself, adding that there's 'nothing holding her back.'
'[The bullies] made me feel like I’m not their equal,' she recalled. 'So many people are bullied, disabled or not.
'But I didn’t let it bother me then or now. Some people just have nothing better to do than to pick on someone else.
'People realize now that there’s nothing holding me back, I’m doing things that they could only dream of.'
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However, while she has propelled in her professional life, Carly still struggles with one thing – dating. She is pictured on the runway
She is currently on the hunt for 'Mr. Right,' but between the men who have made nasty comments about her size and the ones who have 'dwarfism fetishes,' it's been hard for her
Carly said she sometimes gets 'disturbing questions about her body' - but she's still 'holding out for Mr. Right and for someone who won't talk down to her'
'I might be three-feet-tall, but I’m still a grown woman with feelings,' Carly (pictured with her family when she was eight years old) said
Despite being picked on for most of her life, Carly (pictured with her nephew) is very confident in herself, adding that there's 'nothing holding her back'
'I didn’t let it bother me then or now. Some people just have nothing better to do than to pick on someone else,' she said of her haters. She is pictured preparing for a photoshoot
Carly said she 'loves getting glammed up' and 'strutting her stuff' on the runway, and she has now modeled for the foundation Little People of America. She is pictured on the catwalk
Carly said she 'loves getting glammed up' and 'strutting her stuff' on the runway, and she has now modeled for the foundation Little People of America.
But her dreams go beyond modeling and restaurant work. She wants to make a difference in the dwarfism community through her foundation.
'Last year, I started the Little Carly Foundation with my brother, Eddie and we help to raise money for members of the Little People of America,' she said.
'Each year, there’s a national conference held which helps to share awareness and it’s a great way to get involved in social gatherings – it’s like our own little world for a week.'
So far, Carly has raised $3,000 through sponsored walks - which she used to help other people attend the conferences.
Morquio syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects a child's bones and spine, organs, and physical abilities.
Children with this condition are missing or don't produce enough of the enzymes that break down sugar chains naturally produced in the body.
Most people with Carly’s condition reach at most four-feet-tall, but since she had to have surgery at a young age, she stands at just three-feet.
The budding model was first operated on at two-years-old, when doctors infused 11 discs in her neck and back as part of a spinal infusion.
Carly also works part-time as a hostess at a restaurant – a job that she was determined to get, having applied for more than 50 positions with little success
But her dreams go beyond modeling and restaurant work. She wants to make a difference in the dwarfism community through her foundation. She is pictured at a photoshoot
She started it with her brother Eddie (pictured) and so far, Carly has raised $3,000 through sponsored walks
Most people with Carly’s condition reach at most four-feet-tall, but since she had to have surgery at a young age, she stands at just three-feet
The budding model was first operated on at two-years-old, when doctors infused 11 discs in her neck and back as part of a spinal infusion. She is pictured as a child
In total, this surgery took 16 and a half hours to complete, and since then, Carly has had more than 30 surgeries to date. She is pictured during one of her many surgeries
One consisted of a surgical 'potato peeler' being used to remove bone from her head, which was then transplanted into her neck. She is pictured throughout her childhood
'I also had brackets placed on my hips, staples in my knees and ankles, as well as a trachea reconstruction,' Carly (pictured as a child) recalled
In total, this surgery took 16 and a half hours to complete, and since then, Carly has had more than 30 surgeries to date.
Carly (pictured with her cousin) said her organs grow at an average pace for her age, sometimes making them too large for her body - which poses many problems
One consisted of a surgical 'potato peeler' being used to remove bone from her head, which was then transplanted into her neck.
Another included a 'shelf' built into her hip to keep the socket in place.
She shared: 'As my hip kept disjointing and moving out of the socket, my surgeon told me that they would just put it back into place.
'I was only eight at the time and they made things extremely simple so I could understand.
'I also had brackets placed on my hips, staples in my knees and ankles, as well as a trachea reconstruction.
'At 20, I was only the fourth person with my disorder to have this surgery where they took a few inches of my trachea out.
Carly gets weekly infusions with enzymes to replace the ones lacking in her body that help with overall waste disposal
Carly is currently single, but she hopes to get married one day in the future, and perhaps adopt a child with dwarfism – but for now, she’s taking life slow
'I’m happy being an aunt and being a dog mom to my boy, Ruffus, who’s nearly 12,' she said
'As my organs grow at an average pace for my age, my trachea had grown too long and I would constantly have to put my head back in order to breathe.
'I also have weekly infusions with enzymes to replace the ones lacking in my body that help with overall waste disposal.
'Otherwise, the waste in my body would keep building up and I would suffer severe complications from this.
'My nurse travels two hours to my house every week to give me my infusion – and has been my nurse for six years so we have developed a very strong bond.'
Carly is currently single, but she hopes to get married one day in the future, and perhaps adopt a child with dwarfism – but for now, she’s taking life slow.
'Although I’ve never thought about it, I wouldn’t like to be pregnant and my doctors have advised against this,' she concluded.
'I’m happy being an aunt and being a dog mom to my boy, Ruffus, who’s nearly 12.'
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