Lola and Claire Hartley are nine and fourteen years old. Together, they’re only 42 pounds.
Combined, they’re only five feet tall. They’re so small, their mom, Gwen, just carries them.
They were born with dwarfism, along with microcephaly, a neurological condition that causes smallness of the head and incomplete brain development.
When Claire, who’s 14, was born, the doctors told her mother that she wouldn’t live past a year.
But instead of choosing to medicate their daughter, they fed her a healthy diet, and she survived.
Lola was raised the same way.
Despite their abnormalities, Gwen says that they have their own personalities and are a joy to raise.
“People forget that they’re nearly ten and 15 because they’re so small,” says Gwen. “Claire is 3 feet tall and weighs 23 pounds, and Lola is 2 feet and 12 pounds.
“Some people react inappropriately. They don’t understand, and point and stare and make faces…Some see them like they’re a religious experience, like they’re holy or angelic.
“But they’re like any other girls, they like rap music and watch TV, and they have their own personalities.”
Gwen didn’t know her pregnancy was abnormal until Claire was born. Gwen says “it was a shock to see her.”
Doctors said her chances of living were low. “When she was diagnosed, we were told that some people with the condition did well and could grow up to walk and talk and live until their forties. But others suffered seizures and only lived until they were one.
“At the time, Claire would vomit after each feed, so she wasn’t gaining weight. I was told she might die from pneumonia.”
After being fed a diet of fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, and goats milk instead of taking the doctor-recommended drugs, Claire began to improve. She’s lived well ever since.
When Gwen got pregnant with Lola, the family discussed termination, but ultimately decided it wasn’t their route.
“We treated her like we had with Claire, though, and she’s been fine.”
The family loves them unconditionally, including their big brother, who doesn’t have the defect.
“Their brother, Cal, is really proud of them,” says Gwen. “He’s never said he’s sad that they are the way they are. When I was pregnant with Lola, and we weren’t sure if she would survive, he said, ‘I don’t care if she lives long, I just want to know her, even for a little bit.’”
They’re well-loved by the community, too. Gwen hopes they’ll live a long life.
