‘Little people’ have hearts and souls like any person

“I can remember the welfare coming to our home and accusing my parents, that is why they wanted to send me away,” Heather said.

When the du Plooys were young, doctors never knew what disease they were suffering from – Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) – which resulted in them not knowing how to treat it.

With time, they’ve noticed there are certain differences they can pick up. For example, the whites of the eyes of those living with OI are slightly blue.

OI is also known as brittle bones, and due to the multiple fractures, it leads to stunted growth. Brittle bone disease is a disorder that results in fragile bones that break easily.

It’s typically present at birth, but it only develops in children who have a family history of the disease. The condition is not very common and there are many different forms of it.

There are different grades of severity and each grade brings different symptoms to the fore, such as affecting one’s hearing or teeth.

Mike’s hearing has been affected, but his bones are thicker than Heather’s.

“Mine are like straws. In some of the X-rays you can’t even see my bones,” she said.

Unfortunately there is nothing doctors can do for these patients.

“We go to doctors with problems and all they say is ‘Wait until something really bad happens,’” said Heather.

However, the doctors put rods into their legs to keep them straight and strong.

“I used to break my leg about four times a year. Doctors used to hang us by our legs in what they called a cradle, because they thought that was the best solution.

“They didn’t know what else to do. That is what made the spine grow crooked, because you’re a child and your bones are so soft.

“The doctors were ignorant.”

As a result of the stunted growth, it puts a lot of strain on the spines of those living with OI, which led to Heather suffering from severe back problems.

“It’s getting worse and as it is getting worse, it’s breaking my ribs. I’ve got to be so careful so that I don’t turn the wrong way or do the wrong thing,” she said.

“The older you get, the more careful you get.”

She said that whenever she goes shopping she instinctively scans the floor for water and other objects.

Because of her body being so stunted, she also had to have a special stomach operation.

Despite the challenges, Mike and Heather have been living a life as two ‘normal’ people. They met each other in Durban during the 1960s.

Even though Heather admitted that Mike was not her “cup of tea” at first, the couple eventually started dating in 1972 and got married two years later.

They are very independent and have been living in their house in Impala Park, which was specially built for them, for about 39 years.

For example, the kitchen cupboards are much lower and the bath and the basin too. However, at the moment they are going through a hard time, because Mike was retrenched in 2013.

He had contract work for two years thereafter, but that only lasted until March this year.

“It’s a struggle and frustrating trying to find work for him again, because I know companies are looking at his disability and age. If Mike can’t find work, we’ll have to sell our house,” said Heather.

Heather is proud to say that she is very artistic. Most of the art pieces (mosaics and paintings) in their home she made herself.

Heather once wrote a Valentine’s love story for a magazine and won a trip on the Blue Train to Cape Town.

“That was quite a highlight of our lives,” she said.

They have also travelled to family in Australia.

“We’ve lived completely normal lives: going to parties and dancing – nothing stopped us – but the older we’re getting, it seems like we are becoming more isolated,” Heather said.

Mike and Heather have no children, because OI is a hereditary disease.

This is why, she explained, they’ve got animals (cats and dogs). “They are our children – we adore them.”

However, explained Heather, they were fortunate that they never wanted children.

“My mom had such a hard time with me breaking my bones. It must be heart-breaking for a mother to see her child suffering all the time,” she said.

“It’s a genetic defect. Doctors have traced it back to my mother’s side. I was a normal little toddler. That gene is just waiting to spark off,” Heather said.

Heather feels that the world is ignorant towards little people.

“There are days we go shopping when we get packets that are so heavy and we’re battling to carry it, but nobody will offer to help,” Heather said.

“I don’t know if they are too embarrassed. I think sometimes I must look like a pathetic little puppy when I ask people to help carry my packets to the car because I can’t push a trolley.”

“Mike has been doing most of the carrying, but he’s not that strong anymore either.”

And whenever the couple need to get an item from a high shelf, Mike puts the trolley in the right position and simply knocks the item down with his crutch and lets it fall into the trolley – with the hope that the whole shelf doesn’t come down.

Heather said that they do get people staring at them, “which is natural, I know”.

She mentioned that little children always ask them why they are so small.

“Sometimes I tell them that I didn’t eat all my vegetables.”

Heather said that as she has become older, these questions mean nothing.

“When you are younger, you are more conscious. We are different and that is it. We are normal people in disabled bodies.

“We used to get so many parents saying to their children, ‘There’s Tikkie and Tikkie’s wife’ – that would’ve made me cross, because they’re encouraging their children to mock others.

“However, it doesn’t seem to happen anymore.

“People have become more conscious of disabled people and nowadays, parents are explaining to their children. It’s not as bad as it used to be,” Heather said.

Another thing she added is now that they are old, people talk down to them.

“They’ll say, ‘No my sweetie, you don’t do it like this – you do it like that.’ I think it’s mainly because we are small,” Heather said.

“We are not dwarfs. You can see my arms are normal length.”

She said that this attitude doesn’t hurt her; she’s indifferent to it.

Mike and Heather’s strong minds and determination have taught them to live with their condition and to not want to be seen as disabled people.

“My biggest fear is landing up in a wheelchair. The majority of the cases are in wheelchairs,” said Heather.

Advantages they have as little people would be the treatment they get from government departments.

“Government departments have been very good. There has been a change in their attitude and they do take you – as a disabled person – first,” Heather said.

However, she admitted that she has longed to be a ‘normally’ built person.

“It’s the frustrations of not knowing what it’s like to get up and walk or run,” she said.

If there is anything Heather would’ve loved to do, it’s to be a dancer. Mike, on the other hand, would’ve liked to become a clown.

Heather’s message to the public about little people would be that they’re just small, but they’ve got hearts and souls and minds like any able- bodied person.

“I am more than willing to explain to somebody what the problem is. So many people find it fascinating that we both have the same condition and we met.”