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World's Tallest Teenager Lives Football Dreams
Categories: Teens & tweens, Medical Conditions, Development, In The News, Weird But True, Special Needs, Amazing Kids
Tall teen just wants to play football. Photo credit: KXLY.com
Wait a minute. Brendan is almost 7-feet-5-inches tall -- the tallest teenager on the planet, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. And she's worried about him getting hurt?
The sad irony is it took a lot of work to get Brendan on the gridiron. His mother's concerns are more than justified. The 14-year-old eighth-grader from Ellensburg, Wash., about 100 miles east of Seattle, has health problems as formidable as his height. His body is full of tumors. His joints are enlarged. And doctors recently discovered an arrhythmia in his heart.
"I can't run anymore," he told KXLY, the ABC affiliate in Spokane."I can't be active as I used to be."
Getting those assurances was not easy, KXLY reported. Brendan's blood counts were abnormal. Doctors worried a broken bone would result in him bleeding to death. Then, surgery on his spleen got his blood counts back to normal.
Arthritis, another consequence of his height, makes it hard for him to run and jump. "There's not a whole lot he can do," his coach, Kevin Wetzel, told the TV station. "If you want him to get some action, you have to be creative."
The neat thing is that there is no middle schooler who can jump as high as Brendan can hold up his arms. So the team devised a play just for him. All he has do is go about five yards out, hold up his arms and catch a loft from the quarterback.
His teammates call it their "secret weapon."
Brendan's story caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey, and he was a guest on her show last year where she introduced him to basketball star Shaquille O'Neal. Brendan told KXLY that Shaq offered some valuable advice: "Just keep your back straight and have fun."
Brendan hasn't spent much time on the field, but he's a part of the team. That's what is important to him. He told KXLY he wants to show people he is more than just an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.
"Don't think people are weird because of the way they look because I am a nice person."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jennifer 11-04-2009 @ 2:08PM
God bless the coach and his teammates for finding a way to let him play (and his mother too). Good luck Brendan!
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wongtpa 11-04-2009 @ 2:40PM
Would you like to be a giant at this cost, i.e. poor health. NOT! I hope the kid gets medical help to live a normal life.
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April 11-04-2009 @ 3:51PM
I have five children, three boys. I understand how they dream and want so badly to join in sports and love Competitions. But, It's so important to weigh the odds, as to how far his mother goes. To keep from hurting his feelings. She wants the best for him and to not deny him anything, that's understandable. For what cost to his health and maybe his life will that be? His legs are going to be the target most likely in trying to live out this dream. And other than them saying he's alreading having problems with his knees, him admitting he's hurting and Death could come from a broken bone??? Where's the choice? On what this Mom should do for her fourteen yr. old son. He needs guidance Not Submission. My Thoughts and advice. My prayers are with her and Brendan regardless. God Bless LilRose96
davide463 11-04-2009 @ 2:48PM
Good luck to him...Hope he gets all his problems sorted out...The Dolphins need him when he hits 18.
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roena williams 11-04-2009 @ 5:49PM
I know how he feels! It is hard for us giants, being constantly stared at like a walking freak show.....Anyway it is good to see that his family supports him and helps to keep his confidence...
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leon 11-04-2009 @ 8:03PM
stay strong young man with god on your side you can do all things in him always keep your head up
jessica 11-04-2009 @ 3:28PM
stories like these make me realize how lucky i am to have an average body and life. he seems like a wonderful person, i hope he enjoys life as much as possible.
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Linda 11-04-2009 @ 4:34PM
Good Luck Brendan. God Bless
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amberlyn 11-04-2009 @ 3:34PM
This kid right here is my idol :) im 19 and thought i had it difficult. you've definitely inspired me more than anyone ever could. i wish you the best of luck brendan
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L.T. 11-04-2009 @ 3:38PM
Don't feel sorry for Brendan, he doesn't want you to. All this kid wants, is to live a normal teenage life! Lets all pray, that he gets to.
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elise 11-05-2009 @ 10:56AM
It takes a special, strong person like you to be willing to do the things you do. God Bless You Brendan.
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grace.panetta 11-04-2009 @ 3:47PM
thats so cool....good luck brendan.
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conniew893 11-04-2009 @ 4:00PM
i think it great that he get to play wtg have fun
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the Swami 11-04-2009 @ 4:17PM
"secret wepon" huh? you get a good safty to light him up when his arms are up in the air and that will take that play away. They should try him at QB...that would be a huge advantage. As long as they got a decent O-line that will give him a few seconds.
....worst case he would be great a blocking field goals and extra points.
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gary 11-04-2009 @ 6:21PM
I'm gonna puke sportsboy!
ash 11-04-2009 @ 4:15PM
Good luck Brendan! :D Hope you work out all of your medical things.
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jenn 11-05-2009 @ 10:19AM
good luck and god bless! i'm sure your a very handsom boy who will excel in life!
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James Steber 11-04-2009 @ 4:34PM
Brendan's sympthoms sound just like he has the illness ACROMEGALY. If he has all these tumors most likely he has a tumor on his pituitary gland which is exactly what causes all the smpthoms mentioned in the article. Why hasn't any physician checked this out a long time ago. He should immediately have his pituitary growth hormones checked by an endocrinologist and have surgery to remove the tumor from his pituitary gland or have radial therapy to kill the tumor. Then he should either be put on Sandostatin to hold down the tumor's growth or hormone replacement therapy if the tumor and the pituitary gland are killed. For God's someone should please help the poor boy. Killing or limiting the tumor would solve many of his problems but not the heighth problem. HE MUST SEE AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST!!!!
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Elizabeth 11-04-2009 @ 4:58PM
James: Why can't you help him? It sounds like you know something about this type of medical condition. Are you a doctor? If so, then help the kid for God's sake.
Liz0331990 11-04-2009 @ 5:07PM
It is symptoms not symthoms, you almost got it. There is nothing wrong with his height. Look up the Greater Good's Defense. He seems to be making everything work for him. Way to go I hope he lives a good life.