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Dwarfism Awareness
​2026 Update
Hello! I'm so glad that you are here. Nora is now an energetic, smart, and fun three-year-old. She is doing well medically and she never lets anything get in her way! Keep up with us on social media @growntoperfection
Welcome! My name is Kate and I am 29 years old. I live in New Hampshire with my husband, our daughter, and our dog, Franklin. My daughter, Nora, is currently one year old. She was diagnosed with a form of dwarfism called achondroplasia when I was still pregnant with her. The past year has been a journey of highs and lows (mostly highs). Since learning of Nora's diagnosis, we have had countless doctor's appointments and we have met incredible people who have shaped our journey as new parents to a baby with dwarfism.
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Before Nora's diagnosis, I did not know much about dwarfism. I had seen little people before but it certainly was not a common experience. Since being welcomed in to the little people community, I have learned so much. I have learned how to use the correct language when referring to people with dwarfism. I have learned how to handle a baby with low muscle tone and a larger head. I have learned to be more compassionate, inquisitive, and confident.
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I have created this resource for many reasons. One reason is that I needed to create something for my graduate school capstone assignment. I will be earning my Master's in Education and I thought that there is nothing more I would love than to educate people about dwarfism. I am also creating this resource because I remember being absolutely terrified when I was handed Nora's diagnosis. It felt like a death sentence and nothing that I could find online helped me feel at ease with what the future held. I want this site to be a positive and educational experience, especially for a new parent who just received a dwarfism diagnosis.
Welcome, I am so happy that you are here.
My Advocacy Work
BioMarin sponsored a panel at The Boston Globe's Rare Disease Summit in February 2025, focusing on "Making Space for Tough Conversations in Achondroplasia," featuring advocates and doctors discussing diagnosis and treatment challenges. The discussion highlighted the need for open dialogue, moderated by Kristen DeAndrade (Little Legs Big Heart Foundation) with speakers like parent Kate McLeod and Boston Children's physicians Dr. Christina Jacobsen and Dr. Jennifer Arnold, sharing real experiences and promoting better communication.
In June 2025 Kate was a guest on the podcast A Little View, with host Gwyn Drabek. Kate shares:
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The moment the doctor told her
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The challenges she faced navigating the unknown
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Why she doesn’t want to change her daughter—but wants to change how the world responds to difference
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The gaps in the medical system when it comes to dwarfism
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And most of all, the unconditional love she has for her daughter
This is a powerful and emotional conversation about motherhood, advocacy, and raising a child to believe she can do anything she sets her mind to.
Tune in and let Kate’s story remind you what it means to truly see and support someone for who they are.
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