The Tallest Man He Was The Only Man In History To Be Both A Dwarf And A Giant During His Life

It's genuinely rare these days to come across a so-called "medical
miracle." Yet back in the early 1900s, the case of Adam Rainer's
strange and miraculous growth stunned physicians. Rainer is the only
person in recorded history to have been both legally a dwarf and a
giant.
Rainer was born in Graz, Austria, in 1899. He was a normal, healthy
child by all accounts. Despite being born to parents of normal height,
by the time that World War I broke out, Rainer stood at just 4 feet, 6
inches. Recruiters told him he was too short and weak to join the
army.
Damn Interesting
Everything changed for Rainer by the age of 21. Over the next 10 years,
Rainer (who was 4'10'' at the time) would grow to an astonishing 7'1"
by the time he turned 31. It was also during this time when Rainer
began to develop severe curvature of the spine.
The Chirurgeons Apprentice
Rainer's growth spurt took the medical community by surprise. Doctors
examined Rainer to try to determine the source of his wild growth. The
conclusion they reached was that a tumor on Rainer's pituitary gland
was leading to an overproduction of growth hormones. Here you can
see Rainer's height compared to a normal-sized man.
Damn Interesting
In an attempt to cure him of his uncontrollable growth, physicians
operated on Rainer's pituitary gland to remove the tumor. They were
only partially successful. He was still growing, but now at a much
slower pace.
The Chirurgeons Apprentice
Rainer continued to grow for the remainder of his life, but was plagued
by numerous health problems. Eventually, the curvature of his spine
become so bad that he was confined to his bed. Rainer also became
blind in his right eye, and suffered hearing loss in his left ear.
The Chirurgeons Apprentice
Rainer passed away at the age of 51 and at a height of 7'10". He is the
only person in human history who has been able to call himself a
dwarf and a giant in the same lifetime.