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.
This may look like a monster car engine that will leave petrol heads in a spin, but it is in fact a rather snazzy looking COFFEE MACHINE .
SNEAKING slowly into the water, this Bengal tiger plans a vicious attack on three unsuspecting deer .
Swimming side by side with divers, these manatees will do anything they can to stay warm .
Clinging on to their furry backs, mischievous monkeys appeared to enjoy the free transport as they rode around on a perturbed Capybara .
WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES .
A Romanian photographer has captured the unique patterns of hundreds of human eyes in a series of striking macro shots .
A couple have tied the knot in a spectacular Harry Potter-themed wedding which cost £45,000 .
Hot on the heels of a little rabbit, this cheetah is on a mission to catch his prey .
WONDERS of the world have been transformed into their mini-versions in a seven-year round the world adventure .
SPLASHING around in a paddling pool, this little elephant soaks up the sunshine .
WITH THEIR adorable big round eyes and fluffy white fur, these baby seals are cute enough to melt any heart .
