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.
Clinging on to their furry backs, mischievous monkeys appeared to enjoy the free transport as they rode around on a perturbed Capybara .
COURAGEOUS climbers descend 400 metres as they manoeuvre their way through thick walls of ice .
NATURE PAPARAZZIS prove you don't have to be Justin Bieber or Cheryl Cole to attract a pack of photographers .
PEACE and love filled the 1980’s Glastonbury fields as relaxed festival goers kicked back and soaked up the atmosphere .
An elegant snowy owl spreads her wings and glides effortlessly above the snow covered field .
While often referred to as the kings of the jungle, gorillas - for all their might - are notorious hydrophobes .
WITH HIS PAW covering his mouth, this cheeky cub looks amused by something .
WIDE EYED with a huge smile across her face, this little elephant is a picture of happiness .
A HEIGHT-addicted airline pilot has taken pictures of the Dubai from 1,300-feet .
STARING intently into the camera, a polar bear appears to be lost in thought while relaxing in the snow .
Full of tired and busy commuters, these underground stations are rarely admired for their architecture or beauty .
SHOVELLING food into his mouth, this hungry gorilla enjoys a peaceful moment at dinner time .