MOTHER'S DAY SPECIALS! SHOW ME MORE
Colleen Snyder lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. In 2020, she discovered that she had a rare AIP genetic mutation normally found in Northern Ireland that caused her childhood-onset acromegalic gigantism. Knowing that her ancestors came from that area in 1861, she contacted London physician Professor Márta Korbonits about her work with patients from Northern Ireland. Professor Korbonits told her that she was the first person in the United Stated identified with the Irish variant and introduced her to Brendan who has the same genetic mutation and shares her diagnosis of gigantism. A former college writing teacher, Colleen has been published in the Washington Post and Destinations magazine. www.colleensnyder.net, www.insearchofgiants.org Brendan Holland has lived most of his life in the Dungannon area which is part of the genetic hotspot in Northern Ireland identified through Professor Korbonits' research. In 2009, he met Professor Korbonits during the filming of the documentary Charles Byrne, the Irish Giant directed by Ronan McCloskey in which Brendan played a prominent role. Brendan was also featured in the 2016 BBC documentary The Giant Gene. He has researched the history of gigantism in the geographic hotspot and has been interviewed on the NBC Today Show, BBC Radio 4, Irish Examiner, RTE Radio 1, and the BBC World Service. www.insearchofgiants.org
""This book is a unique personal account of the challenges and revelations that come with living with a rare genetic pituitary condition. I encourage anyone living with a rare condition or caring for someone living with a rare condition to read this book. Brendan and Colleen's sharing of their remarkable personal experiences will go a long way to raising awareness and potentially help others in securing an early diagnosis."" --Dr. Ben Loughrey, academic clinical lecturer and physician at Queen's University Belfast and the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ""In Search of Giants is a complex mystery tale weaving together 21st century genetics, ancient Irish legend and lore, and present-day bonds of international friendship. Snyder, who lives in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, has documented her own medical history and linked it to her family's place of origin in Northern Ireland, where a medical condition she shares with her ancestors has brought her a sense of kinship with her new friend and fellow ""Irish giant,"" Brendan Holland. Whether your interest is medical or mythological, you will find this story fascinating and enlightening!"" -Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author of City of Trees and Wild Walking-A Guide to Forest Bathing through the Seasons ""Stories of giants have long filled the narrative of Irish culture in Northern Ireland. This book is an important contribution to the understanding of how Irish mythology and modern medical science combine to explain the prevalence of giant stories in Mid-Ulster. In Search of Giants shows how human genetics has transformed the stuff of legend and folklore into modern medicine and its real-world consequences."" --Jonathan Gray, Northern Ireland historian, Dungannon, County Tyrone, UK ""This book shows how modern genetic medicine diagnoses and successfully treats the rare disease of gigantism. In Search of Giants skillfully meshes myth, folklore, personal anecdotes, and cutting-edge science to create an informative read for both the scientific community and those looking for more information on a rare genetic mutation."" --Susan Gillette, MHS-PHP, State University/Hershey College of Medicine
