'Little People' Star Zach Roloff Reveals Newborn Son Is A Little Person
With the unexpected death of their beloved dog, Sully, and his serious health problems, Zach and Tori Roloff have had a tough year.
And while the birth of their son Jackson earlier this month brought the Little People, Big World couple joy, they learned their baby could face health problems.
In a new interview, the 26-year-old reality star revealed that Jackson was born with achondroplasia, a common form of dwarfism.
"You have to encourage a dwarf child a little more because it will take them five steps to do what others can do in two," Zach, who also has achondroplasia, told People. "But I knew, dwarf or not, I was going to parent my child with the mentality that not everyone gets a trophy. You have to earn it."
Fortunately, 'he's happy and healthy. That's all that matters," the proud dad insisted.
Still, Jackson could experience the medical issues his father did as a child.
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Zach has undergone many surgeries, and even had a shunt placed in his head as a child to drain excess fluid.
Now, he's experiencing severe headaches and vomiting spells that his mother Amy, 52, believed could be the result of the shunt.
"If the shunt failed, it can be life threatening," she said on this week's episode.
As a child, Zach was also the victim of bullying.
"I grew up with name-calling," he said, adding that he's hopeful children today will treat his son differently. "But the world is changing. People are more open to diversity."
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