It’s widely acknowledged that excessive drinking can have detrimental effects on our health. As a result, many of us consume alcohol in moderation. Even pregnant women have been known to take a small amount of whiskey or wine which most of us consider safe, but do you know that alcohol can harm an unborn baby? Unlike adults, their bodies are unable to metabolize alcohol efficiently.
Kids who are exposed to alcohol during the fetal stage end up with a condition known as Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This condition can affect their development while growing up, leaving them with learning disabilities and poor memory. But just because you have FAS doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve your dreams in life.
Many people including celebrities and politicians have made a name for themselves despite their condition. They have learned how to manage it and turn their shortcomings into a success story. It may have taken them longer to learn, but now they can read scripts and have starred in some of the blockbusters that we enjoy.
Here is a list of the oldest people with fetal alcohol syndrome who have gone against the norm and achieved their goals in life.
1. Bernie Sanders (82 Years Old)
Rumors of him having FAS started spreading during his initial stage as a politician. Unfortunately, no one in his team has ever denied or confirmed if Sanders has FAS. This has resulted in his opponent using it against him, but instead of defending himself, he has been advocating for people with FAS for years.
He may have not confirmed the rumors, but his activism for FAS strengthens the claim that he has the condition. People believe that he has FAS because of his poor social cues and prickly eyes.
2. Gary Burghoff (80 Years Old)
The famous M.A.S.H actor was born with a condition known as brachydactyly which is triggered by the Poland condition that’s associated with FAS. This condition was hidden in most episodes, but once in a while, his fans could notice it.
3. Jim Carrey (62 Years Old)
Another top celebrity with this condition who has succeeded in Hollywood is Jim Carrey. Carrey always shares about his upbringing and he claims that he is from an alcoholic family and his mother struggled with drug and alcohol use.
Exposure to alcohol before being born left him with various conditions including uncontrollable sporadic seizures and involuntary facial contortion. But he used the involuntary facial contortions to his advantage and became the celebrity he is today. His fans love him for his unique facial expressions.
4. Frances’s Story (Over 50 Years Old)
According to CDC, Frances was born about 6 weeks earlier and weighed about 3 pounds. While growing up, she had a problem with making friends and learning issues in school. But she did manage to finish school and even go to college and get a job.
Since she didn’t know what was wrong, she went from job to job, but she later started seeing a therapist and even got the right medication for FAS. She still struggles sometimes, but she always tells people that there is hope.
5. Joaquin Phoenix (50 Years Old)
Phoenix has checked himself into rehab several times in his career with the most memorable moment being in 2005 after he had finished filming. The star has had a tough upbringing, thanks to his heavy drinking mum which resulted in him developing FAS.
Phoenix has a unique scar that runs from his nose to his upper lip. The scar is referred to as a microform cleft lip that kids develop during the 1st weeks in their mother’s womb.
6. DJ Peter Bowers (44 Years Old)
Abandoned by his mother before he turned 2, the DJ has spent years struggling with FAS, thanks to his mother’s heavy drinking behavior while she was pregnant with him. His condition made it hard for him to fit in various care facilities and foster homes. Despite the struggle, the Scottish has managed to develop a unique career as a DJ.
FAS may be a tough condition that can make it hard for you to learn in school or even make friends. But that doesn’t mean that you should give up or stop motivating a family member with this condition. After all, the above celebrities went through the same struggle and made it in life, so why shouldn’t you? The struggle made them stronger and a better fit for their careers with some becoming activists for people with FAS.
