Just the Right Size
There are many people I admire, and I love shining the spotlight on them. High on that list is the Worley family of Chattanooga.
They have just completed an amazing journey that has given new life and hope to a beautiful five-year-old girl.
Robin Worley is a dwarf, as are her three children, 16-year-old Heidi, and 14-year-old twins Micah and Noah.
Robin and the children were born with achondroplasia. It is the most common form of dwarfism.
Billy Worley, Robin’s husband of eighteen years, is of average height, as are Robin’s siblings. Still, her small stature has never been an issue. “My parents never let my dwarfism hinder any of my activities,” she said.
Robin grew up in Germany, the daughter of missionaries. After returning to America, Robin met Billy, and they have been together ever since.
Shortly after she became pregnant, doctors told her and Billy the child would be a dwarf, “but there are things we can do,” hinting at an abortion. Robin was horrified at the thought of a child being aborted due to dwarfism. A few months later, beautiful Heidi was born. Two years later, Robin gave birth to the twin boys. In each case the births were difficult. The boys required constant medical care for several weeks. Each child survived, and all are now brilliant and lively. But the family was not yet complete.
Almost two years ago, the Worleys found a little girl named Teagan on a dwarfism awareness website. She was at a Chinese orphanage.
In late 2016, the Worleys began the adoption process. For four months, the Worleys filled out applications, obtained passports, exchanged paperwork, and contacted courthouses and embassies. By April 2017, they got the go-ahead. It was only the beginning.
Through numerous bureaucratic detours, the Worleys waited for an agonizing six months. In mid-November, Teagan’s file was registered with the adoption agency, and the Worleys were told that the next stop would be a decision from the Chinese government. Finally, on Dec. 29, 2017, they got the official thumbs-up.
By mid-March 2018, the paperwork was complete, and Robin and Billy flew to Shijiazhuang, China. During their stay, Robin was told that in China, those born with dwarfism are not welcome. Such children are not allowed to attend school. When they “age out” of the orphanage at age 14, they’re sent to live in a senior citizen home.
She and Billy were understandably relieved to meet five-year-old Teagan. She was theirs at last. The little girl had been clutching a photo of the Worley family, and rushed into their arms. Robin, Billy, and Teagan were surprised at the Chattanooga airport on March 30. They were greeted by family members and friends with signs, balloons, and stuffed animals.
Teagan has adjusted beautifully to her new family. She was soon easily able to tell the difference between twins Micah and Noah, a task that can difficult for longtime friends. The family’s pediatrician checked her out and concluded, “She’s definitely a Worley!”
Meanwhile Robin continues her quest to provide a normal, loving environment for her family. Unfortunately, the love that is shared inside their home is not always mirrored in public. She told me about an incident that happened in a store.
“The kids and I were shopping when a man loudly proclaimed, “Look! A midget family!” I told him that we prefer the term dwarf, or little person. He looked at my daughter and said, “You’re a little midget girl dwarf, aren’t you?” I looked at my children and could see the embarrassment and humiliation in their eyes. As a mom, it ripped my heart to shreds, and I wanted to throw my protective “wings” over them. I hugged them and said, “I’m so sorry. People just don’t understand or have manners.”
She continued, “Situations like this happen too often. We’ve been videoed, photographed, and have been the brunt of jokes. The next time you’re in a store, imagine not being able to reach the items on your list. Or in the bathroom, imagine seeing a toilet that is practically at your shoulder height, and the soap dispenser and towels are totally out of reach. Dwarfism isn’t for the faint of heart, for sure.”
“However, we’ve also experienced the kindness of others who’ve asked if they could hand something down to us, helped me close the van trunk, or just said, “You have a beautiful family.” These moments are cherished.”
“I want Heidi, Micah, Noah, and Teagan to see my faith, trust, and love for God. I know this earthly life will not be easy for them, due to their dwarfism and health issues. However, I know they were created perfectly for God’s glory.”
She concluded,“Please share this message. I want to make the world for my children and others with dwarfism more helpful and tolerant. We’re just the right size, because He makes no mistakes.”
David Carroll, a Chattanooga news anchor, is the author of “Volunteer Bama Dawg,” a collection of his best columns available for $23 each on his website, ChattanoogaRadioTV.com, or by mail. You may contact him at 900 Whitehall Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405 or 3dc@ epbfi.com