She is about to start driving and soon will be able to legally buy alcohol and get married, but Poppy Webb-Jones still looks and thinks like a ten-year-old girl. Unlike other 17-year-olds, Poppy is more interested in Hannah Montana and Justin Bieber than wearing make-up, experimenting with boys or staying out late. This is due to a rare condition which means she was born without any hormones, meaning she has never gone through puberty, never had a growth spurt and never thrown a teenage tantrum. To many parents of teenagers, Poppy must sound like the perfect child, but unbeknown to her or her mother Karen Webb-Meek, her condition posed a deadly risk to her health throughout her whole childhood. Poppy was born with a condition called panhypopituitarism meaning she lacks most of the hormones essential for life. Hypopituitarism is the decreased secretion of one or more of the eight hormones normally produced by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. If there is decreased secretion of most pituitary hormones, the term panhypopituitarism (pan meaning "all") is used. Poppy has no growth hormone, meaning her bones stopped growing around the age of 11, and she has no thyroxine, which regulates the metabolism and energy levels. In addition she has no oestrogen, which controls the onset of puberty and the development of secondary sexual characteristics.
PAWS for thought as you feast your eyes on this rare bear bathing session .
An American black bear mimics John Travolta’s famous Saturday Night Fever dance move by hurling its arm in the air .
Say cheese! This cheeky chappy isn’t in the mood to live up to his scary reputation as he is pictured here cracking a killer smile as he goes about his daily business .
A cheeky gorilla sticks her tongue out and plays up for the camera at Bronx Zoo .
STRIKING photos capture nature at its most raw and powerful during Earth’s most electrifying event .
Pouncing down on top of his twin brother, these two snow leopard cubs practice their kung-fu moves .
WITH THEIR adorable big round eyes and fluffy white fur, these baby seals are cute enough to melt any heart .
A tiny puppy who lost his front legs after being hit by a train has been given and new LEASH of life with a set of wheels .
VIBRANT bursts of colour fill the screen as beautiful flowers blossom in these time-lapse videos .
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
A northern potoo shows it is a master of disguise as it perches on a tree stump and blends into the bark .