Hannah Kritzeck was born with dwarfism and because of this, she was put up for adoption by her birth mother. For months, it looked like nobody wanted little Hannah, until…
Hannah got a new start when a lovely couple called Larry and Jackie met her and instantly fell in love with her. What they didn’t know was that Hannah would save them one day, just as they had saved her.
Not only did she get a pair of loving parents, but she got siblings too. She had two brothers and an older sister. It was definitely a challenge for Larry and Jackie to raise their new daughter with her special needs, but they still loved and accepted her for who she was.
As time passed, Hannah clearly saw her physical growth was quite different from that of her siblings. Her parents explained everything to Hannah and helped her understand it. Hannah knew and accepted that she was special. However, she wasn’t ready for what was about to come.
Apart from heart conditions and brain aneurysms, she had to deal with some pretty harsh words from people at school. What hurt her most was that Her crush told her that nobody would ever date her. However, everyone would soon discover that he was wrong.
Hannah was lucky that she was adopted by such loving parents and had great siblings. Her brothers and sister were the first to stick up for her when she was bullied at school. Sometimes their defense of her even led to fights at school, but it was all to protect their sister.
Hannah gave heartbreaking statements about how hard it was to grow up with dwarfism: “Everyone thinks I’m five-years-old when they see me and it’s frustrating because I’m not a baby. Just because I’m smaller, doesn’t mean I’m any different.”
Her dwarfism put her at a high risk of developing other conditions, such as aneurysms. She has to get annual MRI scans and receives many different treatments. Her scoliosis had to be corrected with two metal rods implanted in her back, and she needed dental implants because her teeth were too small. But the worst thing is that people with primordial dwarfism aren’t expected to live past the age of 30.
Her family did everything they could to make her feel accepted and loved. All the light switches were lowered for her, and stools were put in the bathrooms and kitchen so she could reach everything. One day, Hannah received the terrible news that her mother was suffering from polycystic kidney disease and needed a transplant. Hannah knew that she must do something to help her mother.
She booked a secret appointment to see if she was a match for the transplant. Although she was a match, the doctor warned Hannah that her dwarfism would put her in a high risk for many lethal conditions. Hannah insisted on her donation despite the risk. Luckily, Hannah and her mother were doing fine after the surgery.
Hannah knew she wanted to be a star from a young age. She started dancing when she was two. Even though dancing made her ache because of her condition, she always worked hard to excel. Her dance instructor commented that Hannah’s size never stopped her or even slowed her down.
The fact that she might not live past her 30th birthday seems to be Hannah’s motivation. She is passionate about living every day as if it were her last. Her positive outlook on life is what keeps her going and has led her to accomplish everything she ever dreamed of, which includes meeting one of her idols.
Hannah was once featured on Maury Povich’s talk show. Later on, he decided to have her back on the show and make one of her dreams come true: meeting pop star Selena Gomez. For the 2500th episode, Selena surprised Hannah, wishing her a happy 18th birthday and giving her backstage passes to her upcoming concert.
Meeting her idol Selena Gomez gave her even more motivation to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She started by playing minor roles on television and in movies, and then she got a break when she starred in a documentary called “Little and Looking for Love.” In this series, Hannah mentioned how love is hard to find for her.
Hannah found a friend who also suffered from dwarfism. His name was Brad Jordan and their friendship was somewhat romantic. They enjoyed each other’s company and attended formal events together. Hannah thought she had finally found love, but then…
Unfortunately, Hannah lost Brad to a heart attack in 2017. This not only saddened her, but it also reminded her of her own mortality.
Life has never been easy for Hannah, but that hasn’t stopped her from looking towards a future with a family. She wants a husband and children, just like those around her.
“My advice to anyone living with the condition would be to never give up on your dream and keep trying,” Hannah said. She cherishes each day that she is given, a lesson that we all can learn from.
Those affected with the condition have a growth rate much slower than their peers. As a full-grown adult, Hannah weighs under 30 pounds and measures only 39 inches tall. They aren’t expected to live past the age of 30, but Hannah seems to be beating the odds.
