Monday, November 12, 2007

   Proteus Syndrome
Somethings people never think about are syndromes. Or genetic disorders, and I must admit I was one of those people. I never thought much of people with disorders, I neither made of nor did anything to help these people. I was just me, and they were just them. People I passed on the street. I really didn't care if the looked like freaks of as regular as a regular human can look. But during a school project I came across a number of rare genetic disorders, now I cannot name all that I want to name and have you help, but one took my attention.

The disorder is called Proteus sundrome, after a god who could change his image to hide from danger. Proteus syndrome is an enlargmet of bones and organs. Also having giant tumors form as well. A famous case of Proteus syndrome is "The Elephant man". Now at the beging, I thought this as nothing more than an easy A. But looking at a video to research from, it made me stop and actually listen. These people don't live as long as any others, that is partly due to the enlarged tumors. But they function the same as we do, tumors on the head may cause them to work slower than normal, but nothing is different.

Now watching the video above, I stopped and actually looked back. During class research, I heard sneckering, giggling, laughing, and people becoming grossed out by these peoples images. And it wasn't just people with Proteus syndrome. And it hurts me, these people, my own peers, if someone like this came into our class. Normal in every way other than a little extra attachments. They would make fun of them, tease them behind their backs. Which is worse than having the insult right in your face. And if hurts, it hurts me because, I'd never cared. It never bothered me people did this, so long as it wasn't at me. I would gladly pass the torture torch to anyother.

Even though I can't save the world, I have no super powers nor the knowledge to help these people. I can help in one small way that would make their worlds complete. I could be a friend. They're no different than us, take away what makes them who they are and you have another brainless football player or cheerleader (No offence to any who are). These syndromes aren't curses, their gifts. These people are a lot smarter than we are, but no one would risk their image to listen to them.

If anyone at your school, office, workplace, wherever is alone because they are different. Be that one black sheep and go say hi. Be a friend, show them the world isn't always out to get you. Screw images, screw status. As the Jonas Brothers say, it's not that hard to be a friend
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