When Charlotte Garside was born in 2007, she weighed less than 2 pounds—so small and fragile that doctors weren’t sure she’d survive. Wrapped in bubble wrap and wearing a tiny pink hat, she looked more like a delicate porcelain doll than a newborn.

But Charlotte proved stronger than anyone imagined.

Born a month early, she baffled doctors who believed her mom was only 24 weeks pregnant—she was actually 36. Despite the uncertainty and fear that followed her birth, Charlotte pushed through every challenge with quiet determination.

Over time, her parents learned she has an extremely rare condition called primordial dwarfism. The disorder affects fewer than 100 people in the U.S. and Canada and limits growth to under 3 feet in adulthood. But it hasn’t held Charlotte back.

“She might be small, but she has the biggest personality,” her mom says. “She’s curious, energetic, and always on the move.”

Now 16, Charlotte attends school with the help of a tutor, goes horseback riding with her family, and has a vibrant social life. She’s thriving, even when doctors once warned she might not live past her first birthday.

Her future holds a lot of unknowns, but if there’s one thing her journey has proven, it’s that Charlotte doesn’t follow anyone’s expectations but her own.

“She keeps surprising us,” her mom shares. “We didn’t know if she’d be here today—but she is. And we can’t wait to see what she’ll do next.”