Laron Syndrome Patient
Mr. Apolo-Ramirez was born in 1961 in Balsas, El Oro Province, Ecuador. He was born with Laron syndrome, which is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by an insensitivity to growth hormone caused by a variant of the growth hormone receptor. It causes short stature and a resistance to diabetes and cancer as well as some protection from aging. The majority of reported cases have been of Arabic or Semitic origin, with numerous patients in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, and remote villages in Ecuador with Sephardic roots.
After finishing his primary and secondary education, he studied acting, social communication, and journalism at the Central University of Quito, Ecuador. He then attended the Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja to focus on education sciences specializing in supervision and administrative education. From September 1988, he has taught political science, philosophy and aesthetic education at a local high school. In addition, he writes articles for local newspapers and works as a painter and farmer. Norman is the father of three children.