Overview

It's easy to believe that giants exist only in our imagination, but the truth is they are real, and they are our kin because we have had gigantism too. This is a book about Irish giants. Some of the giants in this book are quite tall, others are not. They have all been deeply affected by their gigantism. Gigantism is not just about being tall. It is a life-threatening medical condition that causes debilitating headaches, blindness, pain, and infertility. Learn about the diagnostic odyssey of patients with gigantism who, like so many others with rare diseases, go years without a diagnosis as the condition continues to wreak havoc in their lives. Experience the heartbreaking details of life with the exceedingly rare disease of gigantism caused by an AIP genetic mutation that originated in a tiny area in Northern Ireland. Read about the macabre tale of how body snatchers stole the corpse of the 18th-century Irish giant Charles Byrne, whose skeleton now resides in the Hunterian Museum in London, and how Professor Márta Korbonits used paleogenetics to unlock the medical mystery of genetic gigantism in Northern Ireland. Journey with us to Northern Ireland to learn about the mythical and folkloric Irish giants of old. Enter the world of legendary and living Irish giants, vast family trees that extend hundreds of years into the past, modern-day giants coping with the effects of their medical condition, and cutting-edge genetic research that reveals how Irish legend intertwines with the lives of modern-day giants. Explore the geographic hotspot for the mutation between Lough Neagh and the Sperrin Mountains in Counties Tyrone and Derry, where researchers continue to investigate this rare condition. Discover the 2,000-year-old AIP genetic mutation that still causes gigantism today, and how genetic genealogy finds modern-day Irish giants from around the world, including Scotland, Canada, Australia, and beyond. Travel with Irish-American Colleen Snyder, the first person in the United States found to have the Irish variant of the AIP genetic mutation, as she embarks on a journey of discovery to find her place among the giants of Northern Ireland. Listen to Brendan Holland as he talks about his deep family roots in Mid-Ulster in County Tyrone, his life as a giant in Northern Ireland, and his historical research into local giant lore and legend. Together, we are in search of giants. Ready to embark on this extraordinary journey? Scroll to the top and order In Search of Giants: The Quest to Find the Genetic Giants of Northern Ireland now to discover the fascinating and heart-wrenching stories of those affected by this rare condition and the groundbreaking research that continues to uncover its mysteries.

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Reviews

"""This book is a unique personal account of the challenges and revelations that come with living with a rare genetic pituitary condition. I encourage anyone living with a rare condition or caring for someone living with a rare condition to read this book. Brendan and Colleen's sharing of their remarkable personal experiences will go a long way to raising awareness and potentially help others in securing an early diagnosis."" --Dr. Ben Loughrey, academic clinical lecturer and physician at Queen's University Belfast and the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ""In Search of Giants is a complex mystery tale weaving together 21st century genetics, ancient Irish legend and lore, and present-day bonds of international friendship. Snyder, who lives in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, has documented her own medical history and linked it to her family's place of origin in Northern Ireland, where a medical condition she shares with her ancestors has brought her a sense of kinship with her new friend and fellow ""Irish giant,"" Brendan Holland. Whether your interest is medical or mythological, you will find this story fascinating and enlightening!"" -Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author of City of Trees and Wild Walking-A Guide to Forest Bathing through the Seasons ""Stories of giants have long filled the narrative of Irish culture in Northern Ireland. This book is an important contribution to the understanding of how Irish mythology and modern medical science combine to explain the prevalence of giant stories in Mid-Ulster. In Search of Giants shows how human genetics has transformed the stuff of legend and folklore into modern medicine and its real-world consequences."" --Jonathan Gray, Northern Ireland historian, Dungannon, County Tyrone, UK ""This book shows how modern genetic medicine diagnoses and successfully treats the rare disease of gigantism. In Search of Giants skillfully meshes myth, folklore, personal anecdotes, and cutting-edge science to create an informative read for both the scientific community and those looking for more information on a rare genetic mutation."" --Susan Gillette, MHS-PHP, State University/Hershey College of Medicine"

""This book is a unique personal account of the challenges and revelations that come with living with a rare genetic pituitary condition. I encourage anyone living with a rare condition or caring for someone living with a rare condition to read this book. Brendan and Colleen's sharing of their remarkable personal experiences will go a long way to raising awareness and potentially help others in securing an early diagnosis."" --Dr. Ben Loughrey, academic clinical lecturer and physician at Queen's University Belfast and the Regional Centre for Endocrinology and Diabetes at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, Northern Ireland. ""In Search of Giants is a complex mystery tale weaving together 21st century genetics, ancient Irish legend and lore, and present-day bonds of international friendship. Snyder, who lives in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, has documented her own medical history and linked it to her family's place of origin in Northern Ireland, where a medical condition she shares with her ancestors has brought her a sense of kinship with her new friend and fellow ""Irish giant,"" Brendan Holland. Whether your interest is medical or mythological, you will find this story fascinating and enlightening!"" -Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author of City of Trees and Wild Walking-A Guide to Forest Bathing through the Seasons ""Stories of giants have long filled the narrative of Irish culture in Northern Ireland. This book is an important contribution to the understanding of how Irish mythology and modern medical science combine to explain the prevalence of giant stories in Mid-Ulster. In Search of Giants shows how human genetics has transformed the stuff of legend and folklore into modern medicine and its real-world consequences."" --Jonathan Gray, Northern Ireland historian, Dungannon, County Tyrone, UK ""This book shows how modern genetic medicine diagnoses and successfully treats the rare disease of gigantism. In Search of Giants skillfully meshes myth, folklore, personal anecdotes, and cutting-edge science to create an informative read for both the scientific community and those looking for more information on a rare genetic mutation."" --Susan Gillette, MHS-PHP, State University/Hershey College of Medicine

Author Information

Colleen Snyder lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. In 2020, she discovered that she had a rare AIP genetic mutation normally found in Northern Ireland that caused her childhood-onset acromegalic gigantism. Knowing that her ancestors came from that area in 1861, she contacted London physician Professor Márta Korbonits about her work with patients from Northern Ireland. Professor Korbonits told her that she was the first person in the United Stated identified with the Irish variant and introduced her to Brendan who has the same genetic mutation and shares her diagnosis of gigantism. A former college writing teacher, Colleen has been published in the Washington Post and Destinations magazine. www.colleensnyder.net, www.insearchofgiants.org Brendan Holland has lived most of his life in the Dungannon area which is part of the genetic hotspot in Northern Ireland identified through Professor Korbonits' research. In 2009, he met Professor Korbonits during the filming of the documentary Charles Byrne, the Irish Giant directed by Ronan McCloskey in which Brendan played a prominent role. Brendan was also featured in the 2016 BBC documentary The Giant Gene. He has researched the history of gigantism in the geographic hotspot and has been interviewed on the NBC Today Show, BBC Radio 4, Irish Examiner, RTE Radio 1, and the BBC World Service. www.insearchofgiants.org

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