Abed El Malla, a 23-year-old from Ludvika, embraces his height of 97 cm due to a skeletal disorder. Despite challenges, he maintains a positive outlook, humorously addressing his height on social media and enjoying life with supportive friends.
Abed, 23, Stands Tall Despite Being Just 97 cm
Abed, 23, Stands Tall Despite Being Just 97 cm
Abed stopped growing as a child, reaching only 97 centimeters in height. "I've never wanted to be of average height," he says.
Abed El Malla, 23, from Ludvika, has a skeletal disorder. When he was around 5-6 years old, he stopped growing completely. While his friends continued to grow taller, Abed never surpassed a meter.
"It was hard to grasp. You didn't really understand it yourself then, but now it's only positive," he says.
Abed describes receiving many looks and comments about his height, especially in school.
"I don't want to use the word bullied, but I definitely felt left out."
By the time he reached high school, he had made many friends, and slowly but surely, the height difference stopped being a problem. Now, Abed and his friends often joke about his height.
"I share a lot about myself, and I don't let anything negative affect me. You need to have the right attitude."
Shopping in the Children's Section
The hardest part for Abed is finding clothes that fit. He buys everything in the children's section to find garments in his size.
"But there's often some text or print on the clothes that I don't want. So my selection is much smaller. Shoes are even harder to find."
In high school, he started posting clips on social media, where he joked about his height.
"The response has been positive and motivating. I get to experience so many fun things because of my height."
"My Friends Often Lift Me Up"
At home, he has an adjustable chair and a stool in every bathroom. If he needs to travel longer distances, he also has a wheelchair and a mobility scooter, as it hurts to walk for too long.
"But I try not to have too many aids around me. I want to manage on my own."
He shares that he often gets "carrying help" from his friends, who lift him when needed.
"They knew what they were getting into when they became friends with me."
Height Doesn't Hinder His Dating Life
What would you do for a day as an average height person?
"I've never really thought like that. I haven't thought that I want to be tall for a day. But maybe I would try a lot of sports."
When it comes to dating, height is often an insecurity for short guys. But not for Abed.
"I can say this, height is not a problem. But I'm not really trying to date, I'm happy as it is right now."
Abed really has to think hard to come up with a single thing he finds difficult about being short.
"Maybe if I'm home alone and need to reach a glass on the top shelf."