Giants are often seen as fascinating beings, all thanks to myths and folklore; they are often being depicted as heroes or people who have it all. However, taking a look at real-life giants and their stories, things begin to take a different turn. Yao Defen is one of many real-life giants who have their own peculiar stories.
Yao Defen was World’s tallest woman as recognized by the Guinness World Records from 2010 to 2012. She was 7 feet 7 inches tall and her height was a result of a tumor in her pituitary gland which led to a medical condition known as Gigantism. Prior to her being certified by Guinness World Records in January 2010, she had started gaining popularity gradually when she reached out for treatment in a hospital back home in China.
Biography And Early Life Of Yao Defen
Defen was born on the 15th of July, 1972 and her parents were peasant farmers who could not afford the medical bills needed to help with the surgery to manage her condition. Fortunately, a British television program that was doing a documentary on her helped to raise funds to facilitate treatment. The treatment centered on slowing down the growth of the tumor, and taking medications to manage the condition until she was fit to undergo surgery.
At the age of 15, Yao was already a little over 6 feet tall and although the tumor was partially removed in 2006, it returned the following year.
She Initially Wanted Playing Basketball
Because of her height, Yao had considered certain career paths that could suit her. She considered playing basketball at some point but could not carry on in that path because she had some health challenges with her heart and lungs and as some media outfit put it “the strain of carrying her massive frame was too much for her heart and lungs.”
There were also times when quite a number of companies tried to train her for sports but had to put a stop to the plans due to the fragile nature of her health. She eventually worked in a circus freak show, traveling along with her father.
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The Death Of Yao Defen
Yao Defen died in November 2012 at the age of 40 after being ill. She died in a home that she shared with her mother in the Eastern province of China. Even though we do not know what manner of illness it was, one cannot help but believe that the cause of her death was probably a result of the brain tumor.
Besides, there is the general assumption that the life expectancy of people living with gigantism. Studies, as well as experience, have also shown that they usually have a low life expectancy. Other associated problems with gigantism include organs growing too large, and patients tend to develop higher risks of having heart diseases.
Yao Defen was reportedly unhappy during her lifetime. Even though she was featured in the World Guinness Book of records, there were several reports of how she complained about her condition, pointing to the fact that people look at her differently because of her height.
Although Defen felt quite alone being a giant, there was a time she fell severely ill as a result of a serious fall which led to an injury in her brain yet again. It was at this time that she met for the very first time, Zhang Jun Cai the tallest man in China (his height was also due to a medical condition). The visit was quite a happy one for her as she was seen smiling even through her pain. Zhang spoke to her for a bit and even gave her a few words of advice on how she needed to be more careful to avoid any more falls, he also told her they could hang out sometime when she gets back on her feet.
This made her give another smile, accompanied by a thumbs up. He made the visit quite brief even though he had to board a plane, taking quite an uncomfortable flight, just to come and encourage his newfound friend. In order to embark on the visit, Zhang had to board a plane that was not designed for people living with a condition such as his. The leg space as well as other luxuries were not suitable for him, and though he flew first class, not much could be done to accommodate his peculiar needs.
