Little People in a Big World

When deciding to have children, Amy and Matt knew there was a 50 percent chance their children could develop achondroplasia dwarfism like Amy. Still, the possibility of having a little person never worried them. "We really do celebrate the fact that we're different. I wouldn't change it for anything," Matt says. "The idea of bringing in a little person to us was very, very exciting."

Matt says he's received what he calls "hate mail" about the fact that he and Amy decided to have children. "I'm not offended easily...but I get offended by people who think, 'Why would you do that?' when really, to us, it's the greatest life experience," Matt says. "I know the rewards that come with being different and persevering through the challenges that come."

Amy says having strong examples in their own parents has helped them through hard times. "When you have kids—knowing that you're going to have a little person—you think, 'You know what? I'm going to do my best and kind of have the same [approach] raising them as my parents raised me.' Be confident. Be independent," she says. "I try and just be the best parent that I can be, and this is all that they have ever known."