A 25-year-old Hunan man, 66 cm tall, has rare pituitary hormone deficiency. Sister Xiaoling, 21, shares their caregiving online. He now gets hormonotherapy.
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A 25-year-old man from Hunan Province in central China has touched millions online due to his extremely rare medical condition. Despite being a quarter-century old, Wang Junming is just 66 centimeters tall, retains a child’s IQ, and possesses a uniquely aged facial appearance with obvious wrinkles and eye pouches, creating a surreal contrast that shocks many viewers. Living a simple, childlike life, he is free from the academic and employment pressures faced by his peers and maintains an early bedtime before 8 p.m. every day. Treated tenderly by the whole family, including his 21-year-old younger sister Xiaoling, he is affectionately called “baby” at home.
Wang’s extraordinary story went viral after his sister Xiaoling documented their daily caregiving life on social media, earning her more than 163,000 followers. Touched by the sibling bond, kind netizens helped connect Wang with professional medical institutions, leading to an official diagnosis in February this year. Doctors confirmed he suffers from pituitary hormone deficiency, a disorder in which the pituitary gland fails to produce essential growth and metabolic hormones. Further genetic tests conducted by medical expert Deng Chao from the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University identified an abnormality in his POU1F1 gene, a key gene that regulates human growth and development.
According to medical research cited by Dr. Deng, only 114 similar cases have been recorded worldwide. Normally, the rare condition is diagnosed in children between six months and three years old. With timely and standardized hormone treatment, most patients can achieve normal height and intellectual development. However, Wang missed the optimal treatment window due to family circumstances.
Wang’s parents once took him to seek medical treatment in Changsha, the provincial capital, and obtained medication for his condition. Yet their impoverished family could not sustain long-term therapy. The family relies solely on the father’s bricklaying work, with a meager monthly income of merely 3,000 yuan (US$450). Superstition also prevented further treatment: Wang’s mother believed his condition was doomed by fate and chose to raise and care for him at home for life.
The family’s journey is filled with unexpected twists and hardships. Three years after Wang’s birth, his sister Xiaoling was born. When Xiaoling was still in primary school, their mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Faced with the imminent loss of their mother, Xiaoling gradually grew close to her special elder brother, regarding him as her closest family and emotional pillar. Though their parents have always hoped she could live an independent life, Xiaoling voluntarily took on the heavy responsibility of caring for Wang.
She has devoted herself entirely to her brother’s daily life, carrying him around and slowly learning to understand his mumbled words. Under her careful companionship, Wang has also made subtle progress: he can clearly recognize his only sister and even help find her phone when their mother hides it. In a miraculous turn of events, their mother eventually recovered from terminal cancer, yet Xiaoling still chose to stay by her brother’s side.
After graduating from nursing school, Xiaoling gave up opportunities in big cities and took a job at a Changsha beauty clinic, specifically to accompany Wang during his long-term medical treatment. Currently, Wang is receiving regular hormonotherapy, though doctors cannot yet confirm the final treatment effects. Dr. Deng explained that treatment may help Wang gain independent walking ability and improve his cognitive level, yet it remains uncertain whether his bones can withstand gradual weight gain and physical development. Medical professionals confirmed that the rare condition will not shorten Wang’s lifespan.
Wang’s special appearance has sparked widespread online discussion, with many netizens comparing his unique condition to the protagonist in the Hollywood film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, wondering if he will grow taller and mentally younger over time. However, no one, including his family and doctors, can answer the question.
Xiaoling revealed her long-term commitment and future plans online. As a child, she once imagined her brother would never grow old and even planned to let her future offspring take over the caregiving duty. To cover ongoing medical expenses, she intends to run a small noodle stall and launch live-streaming content. “Fate stopped him from growing up normally, but it gave me a little man to cherish and care for my entire life,” Xiaoling said affectionately.
Her selfless dedication has won widespread praise online. Many netizens were deeply moved, commenting: “He is unfortunate to be born with this rare illness, but he is incredibly lucky to have such a loving family and a devoted sister.”
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Editor: Crystal H
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