The ‘hobbit boy’ with feet so big he can barely walk will soon be able to play again after groundbreaking treatment

This is the unfortunate teenager whose feet have grown too large to fit any shoes.
Teenager Xiao Meng, who has been nicknamed Hobbit boy by schoolmates, was born with congenital neurofibromatosis – a genetic condition which causes the feet to swell abnormally.
His family were too poor to pay for treatment and his feet have grown bigger and bigger with age.

Xiao Meng was born with congenital neurofibromatosis a genetic condition which causes the feet to swell abnormally. Xiao Meng’s father massages his feet at Shanghai Children’s Hospital.

 

A doctor measures Xiao Meng’s feet at hospital. His family were too poor to pay for treatment and his feet have grown bigger and bigger with age

 

His feet have grown too large to fit any shoes because of the growths caused by the condition

The 14-year-old will have his feet treated at Shanghai Children’s Hospital, China.
The hospital has pledged to give him free care, following a campaign launched by his school teachers and supported by the Chinese media.
Doctors first plan to cut away the excess growths from his feet before allowing half a year for recovery. 

 

The scale of the 14 year old’s feet can be seen when placed next to a hand

 

He is set to undergo treatment which will mean he will one day have much smaller feet. But the teenager will need to learn to walk again

 

After a long campaign by Chinese media and teachers at his school he will now have the life changing surgery

The next stage will be for Xiao to learn how to use his newly trimmed feet.
‘We’re an ordinary family and it breaks my heart to see him suffer but we have no money for medicine,’ explained dad Meng Zhaoguang.
The youngster added: ‘I like school but it hurts to walk and I can’t go quickly or join in many games. Children sometimes call me names but they don’t mean to be cruel.’
Now he is facing a new life after well-wishers donated thousands of pounds for medical fees after he appeared in local media.
Medics at Shanghai’s Children’s Hospital in eastern China are hopeful for the young man’s outcome.

Doctor Tang Yujin said: ‘We can treat the condition and when that is stable we plan to reduce the size of his feet so they look and feel more normal.’