When the Thyroids Strike: The Curious Case of Maria Audenete do Nascimento
In the arid desert of Brazil on a remote area known as Muquém lies the dry and dusty waters of Northern Brazil. Here the Nascimento family got their hands full raising two babies. One was 18 months old and loves playing with the chicken, the other called Audenete sits on a raised platform just like any 2 years old would. She has a wisp of hair on her head. But she is no ordinary toddler, she is 36 years old. Maria Audenete do Nascimento was born on May 7, 1981.
Source: Maria Audenete do Nascimento
Sadly, she is trapped inside the body of a 2-year-old toddler.
Audenete is like a two-year-old. What goes on inside a two-year-old's head is what goes on inside her head.
Dr Manuel Hissa a paediatrician said.
Audenete suffers from a severe case of congenital hyperthyroidism. This simply means she was born with little or no thyroid hormone.
Thyroids are the organ responsible for metabolism and growth. If you do not have it, then you would be like a tortoise that hibernates during the winter; no growth.
Audenete's body had been in hibernation ever since she was two years old. There is no growth or mental development. For 29 years there is virtually no development of the body.
Her case was this way due to the doctors not finding out on time. This was despite the visits to the local health centre. It was only properly diagnosed when she was 8 years old which sadly makes it a late discovery as the treatment for such is long gone.
Raimundo Do Nascimento, Audenete's father whose wife passed any 13 years was devastated by this news.
If her condition was properly diagnosed some few weeks after birth she would have led a completely normal life as her growth hormone would work just fine.
Because of this lack of thyroid hormone, the following happened
- Hair loss
- Lethargic (unlike a natural two-year-old)
- Speech development and other cognitive ability were severely affected
- Excess fat
- Buildup of cholesterol in her blood putting a strain on her heart.
Source: The thyroid glands
The thyroid glands surely do play an amazing role in our body. The thyroid gland is located in the neck and influences metabolism, protein synthesising function and growth. The congenital hyperthyroidism is best treated early
The mainstay in the treatment of congenital hypothyroidism is early diagnosis and thyroid hormone replacement. Optimal care may include diagnosis before age 10-13 days and normalization of thyroid hormone blood levels by age 3 weeks. Source
This is already too late for Audenete but luckily the hormone treatment had yielded some positive result as she could be seen to walk in this video.
Good post about the strange case of Maria. I had the opportunity to see a documentary about the case that was broadcast in Latin America.
Really? I bet her case would attract a lot of media attention. Her medical case could've been fixed if she was given medical attention on time.
Yes, Maria's case was televised. If not I remember correctly, in discoverychannel latinamerican or natgeo.
Unfortunately she did not receive medical attention at the appropriate time.
Wow, that was some great media coverage for the lady. Yes, she did not receive medical treatment on time.
Its quit unfortunate that Maria Audenete sufers from congenital hyperthyroidism. She never chose to live her life that way but situations that was beyond her own ability make her to be born with little or no thyroid hormone. How i wish she got medical attention.
Thanks for sharing @greenrun
Regards @maintain4real-eu
They didn't seek medical attention in time due to late diagnosis, also I doubt the parents may be able to afford it. People only get to help them when her condition went viral.
This is so touching:
Ignorance and financial constraint are disease on their own.
I agree with you.
Very good case, It is unfortunate that they had not treated her with medicine on time. There are many cases like this that have a sense of belonging but because of the lack of resources they do not seek them.
You are very right.
I really feel for her! Just imagining what that little figure there would have grown into had she not been so unlucky.
Yeah, it is a sad case.
It's so sad. To think that there would have been hope for her much earlier makes it more painful. I think the father would have resigned himself to fate. So sad.
He did, but her condition went viral, it brought some help their way, though late, which could count as something.
kudos @greenrun,
You are epic..now i see why thyroid hormone is vital....good info..
It sure is. Thanks.
lol quite funny
now this is something you dont see everyday.
this is truly young forever
This one comes at a price.
We wish to be young forever but not at such a great cost...
Yeah, but her case is quite rare.
only those know the pain who are trapped with that we can learn and try to overcome this but positive sides is that we are getting better with the advancement of medical ...thanks for sharing this post and information
The sad thing was there is a treatment option, just that she wasn't diagnosed on time.
Poor girl or should I say woman. She looks her age facially though but its a pity her condition is this way.
This is really a bad case, I would read up on this disorder to get more details. Thank you for sharing
You are most welcome.