Tori and Zach Roloff are opening up about their journey to parenthood, particularly the decision to have children despite the possibility of them inheriting dwarfism. The couple, known for their roles on “Little People, Big World,” have three children—Jackson, Lilah, and Josiah—each born with achondroplasia, the most common form of short-limbed dwarfism.
In a recent episode of their “Raising Heights” podcast, Tori and Zach addressed the scrutiny they face regarding their choice to have children who might inherit dwarfism. Tori candidly shared, “It’s very loud, and it’s very hard to ignore when people question our decision to have children when we knew that they could have dwarfism. And we knew pretty strongly that [the children] could [have it]…”
Despite the concerns, the couple decided to take the chance, knowing the odds were 50-50. Zach explained, “We just hit a dwarfism cluster somewhere in the cycle. And if we have three more kids, they could all be average height.” However, the couple has decided not to have more children. Tori added, “We have ended it. We’ll never know.”
Tori also clarified that the chances of their children having the same kind of dwarfism as Zach’s father, Matt Roloff, who has diastrophic dysplasia, were the same as any average couple’s chances since it is a recessive gene.
The couple also discussed the criticism they face about “passing along” the dwarfism genes to another generation. Tori described this mindset as “sticky and very dangerous” because they had no control over which genes were passed on. “People are often looking for this perfect child and want to make sure that their kid doesn’t have x, y, and z problems, but at the end of the day, it’s in God’s hands,” they said.
Tori and Zach, who married in July 2015, welcomed their son Jackson in 2017, daughter Lilah in 2019, and their third child Josiah in 2022. Over the years, they have been open about their lives and the challenges and joys of raising their three children, both on and off-screen.
In a 2021 Instagram Story Q&A, Tori, who does not have achondroplasia, responded to a question about whether she wished she could raise a child without dwarfism. “Absolutely not,” Tori wrote. “I’m obsessed with the three kids God gave me, and I’d have it no other way.”
The couple’s openness about their experiences has resonated with many, shedding light on the realities of raising children with dwarfism and the importance of acceptance and love in the face of genetic uncertainties. Their story is a testament to their belief that the outcome of their children’s genetic makeup is ultimately in God’s hands, and they embrace their family just as it is.
Source: People
