Bullies Always Teased Her, But How She Fought Back Surprised Everyone …

Some people seem to have it easier than others, which is often the very unfair reality of life. Hannah was certainly one of those people. She was born with the rare condition of dwarfism, and rather than loving her for who she is, her birth mother gave her up for adoption. After months, it seemed that nobody wanted to make her part of their family.

Not Alone Anymore

Would Hannah have to suffer through life without a family of her own? Fortunately, the answer was “no.” A lovely couple by the names of Larry and Jackie knew from the moment that they laid eyes on Hannah that she could help complete their family. Their life was selfless, so there was no way they could have known that one day they would need her just as much as she needed them.

All the Pieces Are Together

Hannah was more lucky than she ever could have imagined. In addition to a pair of parents that loved her, she also got two brothers, Mark and Matt, and an older sister by the name of Kelly. The Kritzeck family finally felt complete and every one, including Hannah, always knew that they belonged in their home together.

Explaining Her Differences

Hannah could easily see that she was different as she failed to grow at the pace of her siblings or her classmates at school. When she was old enough to comprehend it all, Larry and Jackie explained dwarfism to her. This was not easy, as only 100 people in the world have primordial dwarfism. Hannah liked being different, but would find out that being different in high school is hard.

Bullies at School

Along with Hannah’s condition came complications such as heart problems and brain aneurysms. She also dealt with her share of bullies at school, not to mention all of the people who would simply stare at her as if she didn’t notice them. She was told that nobody would ever date her and made to feel like she didn’t belong at times, too.

Protective Siblings

It was very lucky for Hannah that she had a wonderful family at home to provide her with support on her toughest days. Her brothers and sister not only supported her, but stuck up for her at school, too. At times, her siblings would even engage in fisticuffs to defend the honor of their sister after someone had picked on her.

What Hannah Thought

Years later, Hannah said that she always knew that she was different physically from the rest of the members of her family. She said that although she had a very “normal” childhood, it was often difficult having people believe that she was a child even during her teen years. “Just because I’m smaller doesn’t mean I’m any different,” Hannah said.

So Many Health Issues

Doctor’s appointments have been a part of Hannah’s life since she was a baby, especially because of the many side effects of primordial dwarfism. She needs to be monitored carefully with a regimen that includes MRI scans, frequent dentist visits and treatments for scoliosis. As you can see, Hannah has never really had it easy.

A Loyal Family

In the Kritzeck home, Hannah never had to feel like she was not good enough. They did everything that they could to make her comfortable, including placing stools around the home for her use and adding lower light switches and door handles for her to use. When her mother, Jackie discovered that she needed a kidney transplant, Hannah knew she had to repay the favor.

Determined to Help

Hannah was able to book a doctor’s appointment without her mother’s knowledge. There, she found out that she was a match for her mother, although her doctor was concerned about the complications of accepting a kidney transplant from Hannah. Still, Hannah was completely determined to do what she could to help her mother.

Never Back Down

Hannah’s determination had sprouted up regularly throughout the years, whether it was her perseverance through the challenges of everyday life or her medical troubles. She showed the same determination in gymnastics classes and dancing instruction, both of which helped her learn to surpass her own expectations for herself.

Inspiring Others

Hannah enjoyed not only dancing, but also singing and acting. According to her dance instructor, Hannah’s physical limitations have never stopped her, and she has worked hard to be as good a dancer as all of the other team members. In that way, Hannah has served as an inspiration to many that have seen her perform.

A Dance For Every Mood

Hannah loved dance for many reasons. One reason that she enjoys dancing is that she can tap into certain elements of her personality. She loves the strength required for hip hop dancing and the calming, soothing nature of ballet. She has always maintained that everyone with a condition like hers should pursue their dreams no matter what.

Making the Most of Each Day

With Hannah’s condition comes the sobering truth that she may not even live to be 30 years old. As a result, Hannah is extremely passionate about making the very most out of each day. She has adopted a positive outlook on life that extends to everything from academics and performing to cherishing the time that she spends with her family.

Meeting Her Favorite Star

Talk show host Maury Povich helped make one of Hannah’s dreams a reality for the 2,500th episode of his show. He had Hannah on as a guest on the show and upon learning that she was a huge Selena Gomez fan, he arranged to have Selena herself show up and surprise her. Hannah even got backstage passes for Selena’s next concert.

Successful Screen Career

As mentioned earlier, Hannah has never been one to waste time when it comes to pursuing her dreams. As a result, she has appeared in a number of independent films as an actress. She also appeared as the focus of Little and Looking for Love, a 2014 television documentary about her life and struggles.

Trio of Besties

Hannah has not had an easy time finding the right guy to fall for, but that doesn’t mean that she’s alone. Not only does she have her parents and siblings to lean on, but she also has a pair of great best friends, Heidi and Emily, that are always there for her when she needs to laugh, cry, or just hang out and have a good time.

Siblings All Grown Up

As for Hannah’s brothers and sister, they have grown up and now have families of their own. Hannah even has some nieces and nephews that she says are able to carry her! As anyone with siblings can tell you, it’s important to have people in your life that you can count on no matter what, and that’s what her brothers and sister have been for her.

Tragic Friendship

Unfortunately, not all of Hannah’s friendships have gone so well. One friend, Brad, took her to Prom one year and was a very close friend for quite some time. Sadly, Brad tragically suffered a heart attack in March 2017 and died. This would be a very tough thing for anyone to go through, but for someone like Hannah, who has had a hard time making friends, it was particularly difficult.

Looking For Love

Like anyone else, Hannah has dreams for her future. She would like to get married and start her own family, first of all. As for her preferences, she likes guys that have brown hair and blue eyes. She likes guys who are a little on the wild side, with a nicely styled mohawk, she said. Of course, she also has her own career and personal goals aside from her love life.

She Loves to Party

As mentioned before, Hannah does not have to go through life alone even though she has not yet found love. She is always going out to do fun things with her family and friends, whether it’s a boat party, birthday, or other special occasion. She is fully accepted by her friends and family, which is the most important thing.

Hannah Likes to Dream Big

Aside from her love life and the dream of getting married and settling down, Hannah has a lot of career goals, too. She enjoys acting, but would also like to do vocal coaching for aspiring singers. She also is interested in using her ballet and dance skills to travel around the world. She is dedicated to pursuing her dreams to the fullest.

Concerned Mother

Now 63 years old, Jackie is concerned about her daughter’s future due to her condition. She admires Hannah’s bravery, however, especially when it comes to pursuing difficult dreams and tackling challenges. It can’t be easy to raise someone who has gone through so many medical problems, but Jackie has been inspired by Hannah throughout the years.

Mother Daughter Bond

Jackie refers to Hannah as her special sidekick, noting that they do all kinds of fun things together as mother and daughter. She thinks that she and Hannah will always have a close relationship, no matter what happens. Jackie admits that she doesn’t like to think about Hannah’s shortened life expectancy, but knows that she needs to accept it for what it is.

Facts About Primordial Dwarfism

Let’s talk a bit about Hannah’s condition. As mentioned before, primordial dwarfism is a very rare condition. The condition causes those who suffer from it to be very small as their peers grow up at a normal speed. Hannah, for instance, is just 3’3″ tall and weighs only about 30 pounds. It’s certainly not easy being that small.

An Extremely Rare Condition

Worldwide, only about 100 recorded cases of primordial dwarfism exist, making it a staggeringly rare condition. It’s good that it’s a very rare condition, too, as it significantly lowers life expectancy to about the age of 30 years old. However, Hannah seems like the kind of person who can outperform the odds!

Hannah In the Limelight

As part of her rare condition, Hannah is often sought out for interviews by the media. People are very curious about her life, and Hannah is always a very personable, friendly person to speak to. Her positivity makes others happy and relaxed. She is able to inspire others instead of making them just feel sorry for her.

Taking One Day at a Time

So far, Hannah’s health has held up through hundreds of doctor’s appointments, procedures, and precautions. Even with donating a kidney to her mother, Hannah has continued to live her life. While everyone knows that Hannah can’t afford to take life for granted, she continues to stay focused on her goals and take one day at a time.