The average height of an NBA player is 6’7. At 8’2, the tallest living man in the world is Turkish farmer Sultan Kosen. But now, 19-year-old Broc Brown of Michigan is expected to surpass him. Broc stands at 7 feet 8 inches tall and grows about six inches every year. He previously held a Guinness World Record title for an 18-and-under category but it no longer stands due to his age. When Broc was in kindergarten, he was a little over 5 feet tall. In middle school, he was about 6 feet tall and then in high school, he reached 7 feet, his mother said in a video interview with The Telegraph. The reason why this young man is so tall is because he is living with a genetic disorder called Sotos Syndrome, or cerebral gigantism. This disorder affects about 1 in every 5,000 births. People living with it will experience distinctive facial changes and overgrowth. Broc has also been diagnosed with ADHD, ODD (oppositional defiant disorder), and IED (intermediate explosive disorder), all of which is not uncommon for people with Sotos Syndrome. Despite his challenges, Broc is determined to have his own job in the future. He receives plenty of support from his family and local community. Continue reading to learn more about this non-stop growing teen.Broc was diagnosed with Sotos Syndrome at age 5, which explains his overgrowth. People living with this syndrome are expected to hit a normal range once they reach adulthood but Broc just kept growing.
In addition to the issues mentioned above, Broc also suffers from severe back pain, which experts say he’ll probably live with for the remainder of his life. He was born with one kidney so is unable to take painkillers.
Nike originally made size 22 shoes for Shaq but Broc outgrew them a couple years ago. He now orders custom shoes from the company.
Here is Broc surrounded by his loving family (from left to right: his aunt, mother, and grandmother). Every time they go out, they allot extra time because they never know what’s going to happen. Every now and then, someone will stop Broc to snap a photo with him, which he kindly agrees to. Broc’s mother told The Telegraph that she just hopes her son has a good life. ‘Overall he is a big softie; his heart is as big as his body,’ she said.
As you can imagine, Broc has to get custom fit wear to be comfortable. He also had to get a custom bed. Together his community raised $10,000 for him, which went to clothing and shoes.
‘They call him a gentle giant and he has a heart as big as gold,’ his aunt Stacy Snyder added.
Despite his diagnoses, Broc is expected to live a normal life span. When his doctor informed him of the news, he was very happy. ‘It’s the best thing I could have heard. I’m so happy that I will live for a long time,’ he told Barcroft.
