The world’s smallest ever mother has sadly passed away at the age of 44 after leading a remarkable life.
Stacey Herald, who was only 2 feet 4 inches tall, was born with Osteogenisis Imperfecta, a rare genetic disorder that inhibits growth and results in undeveloped lungs and brittle bones.
The beloved mother leaves behind husband Wil, 35, daughters Kateri, 11, and Makya, 10, and son Malachi, eight, who all live together in the family home in Kentucky.
The proud mom was able to help care for her children, despite her condition, thanks to the help of her husband, who would take over at night when she became too tired.
Doctors had advised Stacey not to get pregnant because the child would grow too huge and suffocate her heart and lungs, but she went against their advice and became a mother.
With three children in only three years, the mother-of-three rejected medical advice to start a family. However, two of her children, Kateri and Malachi, inherited her disease, which the family had intended to avoid.
Her youngest child, Malachi, was born eight weeks prematurely by caesarian section on November 28, 2010, weighing just 2lb 10oz.
Stacey, who had 34 stitches across her stomach from the procedure, said at the time: ‘He’s the most beautiful perfect boy I’ve ever seen.
“All I want to do is stay by his side.”
She added: “Malachi was born without any broken bones.
“People with our condition are often born with broken arms and legs because our bones are fragile and can be damaged by the birth.
“I’ve explained that they’re all special babies, but that the girls will have to be careful with Malachi, until he’s a bit older.
“When we found out Malachi had my condition it was hard. But we knew we would be the best support possible for him, because Kateri and I have both been there already.”
Stacey, who was confined to a wheelchair, assisted Wil, whom she married in 2004, in taking care of the kids. Stacey and Wil had first met in 2000 while she was working at a supermarket.
She breastfed Malachi and had a platform custom-built so she could bathe them and change their diapers while seated in her wheelchair.
But trainee vicar Wil, who is 5ft 9ins, took charge of them at night as it then became too difficult for her.
“Anything I can’t do, Wil can,’ Stacey said at the time of her third child’s birth.
“He’s great at getting up in the night and changing diapers and feeding the girls, he really is a blessing.”
Stacey particularly needed his help in looking after Makya, who was already a foot taller than her mother at just two years old.
“I can’t physically stop her if she’s upset. She’s too big for me now, so Wil has to take care of that,’ she said.
Stacey explained that she thought of herself as a “miracle” and knew that her children “would be miracles, too” despite the challenges she experienced and the extreme danger she ran while giving birth.
