Standing at a mere four feet and 11 inches tall, 20-year-old David Thorpe tries to lead a normal life, but because he weighs 316 pounds, life has taken a cruel twist. Thorpe faces discrimination wherever he goes.
He is called names such as Fatboy, Slowpoke and Fatty. Though he tries to be brisk, Thorpe's debilitating weight also has started to take a toll on his health. Injecting himself with insulin to battle diabetes, has now become part of his life. Because he is an only child, Thorpe's mother, Madlyn, has tried to provide the best health care for him. The Guardian caught up with Thorpe yesterday, as he walked along New Colonial Road, Barrackpore, on his way to stop a bus for his neighbour.
Doing favours for them has become part of his daily routine. Often Thorpe would walk to No 2 Scale Junction to help one neighbour conduct sales. He also works at a service station opposite his home. Though he is loved by the people in his community, Thorpe says his only mission in life is to lose weight so he can live long enough to take care of his mother. He said: "I need to lose weight. I am tired of people calling me names. It hurts. I need to be around for my mother. I want to live for my mother."
Thorpe said he hoped to benefit from the Prime Minister's Life Fund for Children or to get the services of a dietician.
He said: "I want to be sent abroad for treatment if possible. I am willing to do anything to lose this weight.
"My mother doesn't want me to do the stomach surgery because it is dangerous but I am willing to diet and exercise and get help so that I can lead a normal life," he added.
Madlyn said Thorpe was born premature at eight months and spent four week at the Southern Medical Clinic.
Before he was one-year-old, Madlyn noticed Thorpe did not grow like a normal baby. It would be six years later that he would be able to walk and talk. Despite his slow growth, Madlyn said she still enrolled Thorpe in pre-school. "We would have to pick him up bodily and take him to school because he couldn't walk. Eventually the doctor told us that some good country breeze might help so we left Coconut Drive and moved to Barrackpore." she said.
Thorpe later attended the Ave Maria Private School and the Hercules Private School, San Fernando.
Madlyn said she took Thorpe to a weight-loss clinic in Chaguanas and he was put on a diet. She explained, however, that after three weeks he became weak. Anyone wanting to assist Thorpe can contact him at 352-7171.
