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.
WONDERS of the world have been transformed into their mini-versions in a seven-year round the world adventure .
An Australian beach is illuminated by an enticing neon blue glow as a rare phenomenon lights up the water .
Most people bend over backwards to keep children entertained, but this baboon show us how it’s done .
WIDE EYED and staring straight down the lens of the camera, this intrigued seal is ready for his close up .
RACING through the mountain range on horseback, the Kazakh people practice their ancient tradition of hunting with golden eagles .
LIKE SUPERMAN carrying a slimy Lois Lane through the air this frog is treating its mate to a flying lesson .
FLOATING effortlessly on his back, this little otter laps up a rare glimmer of English spring sunshine .
A SPECTRUM of colours fills the sky during this spectacular and natural display of light .
Throwing their arms up in the air, these energetic squirrels play a game of ball with a walnut .
Fetching a tiny carrot and a head-shaped snowball, a red squirrel builds the perfect snowman .
BEAUTIFULLY lit by the dim glow of lanterns, a cave in Iceland is transformed into the perfect wedding venue .