A pensioner from the United Kingdom who has Down’s syndrome is looking forward to celebrating his 72nd birthday after surviving for five times his life expectancy.
Terry Culley is one of the oldest people in the country affected by the condition and still alive. However, the doctors told his parents that they did not expect Terry to live past 14 years at the time he was born.
But, Terry, a keen musician, has repeatedly beaten the odds of the doctors to reach the age of 71. When he was born, the doctors said that due to his rare genetic condition, he would not be able to make past 14 years and people with Down’s syndrome often do not live past their 50s.
He will turn 72 on August 25. He has lived in the same care home for the past three decades, at the Laurel in Swindon, Wiltshire.
Terry can speak but sometimes requires an interpreter to help him communicate. And it wasn’t until 10 before he started walking.
Susie Clavery, the care home manager, says that he tries to keep an active lifestyle and he has very good care and support.
Earlier this year, he had pneumonia and sepsis and spent three months in a hospital. The staff wasn’t sure if he could make it, but to everyone’s surprise, he is back to his old life now.
He is a loving guy who loves to help out people. He likes to dance and sing and sometimes, he plays drums and harmonica.
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